1979.20.128

Collection type

Object

Description

Ivory pendant earring decorated with incised and inlaid ring and dot motif on the outer face [RTS 8/7/2004].

Long description

Earring carved from a single piece of pale cream coloured ivory (Pantone 7401C), cut into an irregular shape with flat upper edge with two short squared lugs on either side of this then a further four squared arms angled out from the body; the shape is reminiscent of a human figure with ears, outstretched arms and legs. The body has very slightly convex upper and lower surfaces and flat side edges, and has been pierced near the top with a large circular suspension hole. The upper surface has been decorated with a series of incised ring and dot motifs, all made with a tool of similar size, with a central dot 1 mm in diameter and an outer ring that is 4 mm in diameter. There is a single dotted circle covering each projecting 'ear' at the top of the pendant, then a row of dotted circles on either side of the body, forming arcs that extend from the 'arm' to the base of the 'leg'. These overlap on one side of the object, and have all been inlaid with a black material to make them stand out against the pale colour of the ivory. The earring is complete and intact, and has a weight of 2.3 grams. It is 24 mm long, 25 mm wide and 3.9 mm thick, while the suspension hole has a diameter of 7 mm [RTS 9/7/2004].

Geographical reference

South Sudan

Africa > Eastern Africa > South Sudan

Northern Bahr el Ghazal Dhangrial Wun Rog Mayen

Cultural groups

Dinka Tuich

Person

Maker Liail Atem

Field collector Patti Langton

PRM source Patti Langton

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1979

Date collected

17 - 26 February 1979

Acquisition information

Purchased: 1979

Materials and processes

Material Animal Ivory Tooth, Process Carved, Process Perforated, Process Incised, Process Inlaid, Process Decorated

Dimensions

Length 24 mm, Width 25 mm, Thick 3.9 mm, Diameter 7 mm hole, Weight 2.3 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 1979.20.128

Research and responses

At the time this object was collected, the Bahr el Ghazal province was bordered by the Upper Nile Province to the east and Western Equatoria to the south; this area is now divided into the districts of Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and parts of Warab and El Buheyrat. Dhangrial, Wun Rog and Mayen lie within Northern Bahr el Ghazal. For a map showing the distribution of Dinka Tuich groups, see J. Ryle, 1982, Warriors of the White Nile: The Dinka, p. 25. Although no place or date of collection is given for this object, Langton's expedition appears to have been collecting Dinka material from these three sites between 17/2/1979 and 26/2/1979 [RTS 12/1/2004].

For similar earrings, see 1979.20.127, 129; these are in the same style and of comparable size, but not identical in body shape or decoration [RTS 8/7/2004].

The material was confirmed as ivory by conservation in October 2004 [RTS 2/11/2004].

Search terms: Ornament, Ear Ornament