1979.20.190.2

Collection type

Object

Description

Small tin ear stud with hemispherical head [RTS 12/5/2004].

Long description

Small tin ear stud consisting of a shallow, hemispherical head with flat underside offset from a thick shaft, roughly circular in section, with concave sides, swelling out at the other end to a bulbous tip, with faceted sides around a narrow flat centre. The stud is complete and intact, with hammering marks visible on the shaft; the edges of the head have been bent over and compressed slightly against the underside. It is 10 mm long, with a head diameter of 5.2 mm, a diameter at the narrowest point of the shaft of 3.2 mm, and of 4 mm at the swollen shaft end, with a weight of 0.3 grams [RTS 12/5/2004].

Geographical reference

South Sudan

Africa > Eastern Africa > South Sudan

Eastern Equatoria Loryok

Cultural groups

Southern Laarim

Person

Field collector Jill Goudie

PRM source Patti Langton

Date / Period

Date made: Before 03/1979

Date collected

20 - 25 March 1979

Acquisition information

Purchased: 1979

Materials and processes

Material Tin Metal, Process Hammered

Dimensions

Length 10 mm, Diameter 5.2 mm head, Diameter: max 4 mm shaft, Weight 0.3 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 1979.20.190.2 Other numbers: ∆41

Research and responses

Langton recorded that 'All Larim children have three holes pierced in their ears as well as a lip hole and two lower incisors removed when they are about seven years old' (see the entry for 1979.20.158.1-2). However this description accompanied an ear stud of different design, from the Northern Larim; it is not clear if the southern Larim followed the same practice.

The three studs mentioned in the accession book entry are 1979.20.190.1, .2 and .3; these are all very similar in shape and size [RTS 12/5/2004].

Search terms: Ornament, Ear Ornament