The history of Wicca is often debated by different people. Technically it started in 1954, but it was based on a mix of ancient religions. In the following paragraphs we will briefly cover the history of Wicca from caveman times to modern times. In 1908, a statue known as the Venus of Willendorf was found in a cave near what is now Vienna, Austria. Archaeologists believe the figure dates back to 24,000 and 22,000 BC. Similar statues have been found across a large area of ​​Europe. The Venus of Willendorf has become a symbol of prehistoric art. The Paleolithic man/woman believed in a multitude of gods and honored the spirit of all things. Today this is called animism. As Wo/Man matured and traveled across Europe, he brought his religion with him, and the gods acquired different names. Wo/Man had also developed belief in an afterlife. The funerary customs of the Gravettians (22,000-18,000 BC) included burials with personal objects. In some areas of Europe these ritual leaders, or priests and priestesses, became known as Wicca, meaning "The Wise." During the time of the Anglo-Saxon kings in England, the king would never think of acting on an important matter without consulting the Witan. In 2000 BC the Code of Hammurabi of Babylon instructs people: "If a man has made an accusation of witchcraft and has not justified it, he on whom witchcraft has been imputed will go to the sacred river; he will dive into the sacred river and if the holy river conquers him, the one who accused him will take his house." By 350 BC, the Celts had developed a priestly class called the Druids against witches provoking another for...... means of paper ......appellate court ruled that Wicca is a religion deserving First Amendment protection as a legal religion and granted it a tax-exempt status. Laurie Cabot founded the Witches' League for public awareness The American Civil Liberties Union came to the witches' legal aid by arguing in court in 1999 that a student of Wiccan high schools should be allowed to wear the symbol of their faith to school. Wicca has passed through history with its many trials and tribulations. It has a very checkered history, which cannot all be covered in a single research paper. E-Books: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft by Denise Zimmermann and Katherine A. Gleason pages 17-27. Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland pages 1-8. Websites: http://www.religionfacts.com/neopaganism/timeline.htm