Necklace Item Number: Aa161 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Three strands of twisted brown sinew with ten pieces of wood of varied length attached by tangled brown leather thongs. Some of the wooden pieces are hollowed and strung like beads, others are merely tied on. The opposite end of the sinews are attached by a leather cord to an incised hollow baton of light-coloured wood through a single hole drilled at its top.
History Of Use
Used in a puberty rite ceremony for women. After the first menstrual cycle, the sticks are chewed by the girl. The chewed sticks are spit out over the hunters' goods, living areas, et cetera, where good luck is desired. The baton, the longest stick of the necklace, is usually nicely decorated by the prospective husband and given to the girl at this time as a token of his acceptance of her as a bride.
Cultural Context
Puberty ritual.
Item History
- Made in Okavango Swamps, Botswana
- Collected between 1967 and 1975
- Owned by Frank A. Gaudin before September 15, 1975
- Received from Frank A. Gaudin (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) on September 15, 1975
What
Who
- Culture
- Khoisan ?
- Previous Owner
- Frank A. Gaudin
- Received from
- Frank A. Gaudin (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Okavango Swamps, Botswana
When
- Collection Date
- between 1967 and 1975
- Ownership Date
- before September 15, 1975
- Acquisition Date
- on September 15, 1975
Other
- Item Classes
- beadwork
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 100
- Accession Number
- 0287/0134