Anuak fish stick

Anuak fish stick
Other views of this artifact:


Accession Number:
1936.10.28
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Anywaa [Anuak]
Date Made:
By 1936
Materials:
Wood Plant
Process:
Carved
Dimensions:
L = 700 mm, top bar L = 160 mm, W = 19.6, th - 19 mm; body W = 13.5, th = 13.4 mm [RTS 25/8/2004].
Weight:
86.2 g
Local Name:
diganu
Other Owners:
Presumably collected by Evans-Pritchard during his period of fieldwork amongst the Anuak between early March and May 1935 [RTS 18/6/2004].
Field Collector:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated 1936
Collected Date:
March - May 1935
Description:
Stick used for carrying or hanging fish, cut from a tree branch and carved the shape the ends. This consists of a short bar that runs across the top of the stick, the sides of which have been shaved to reduce the body slightly and perhaps remove some of the surface bark; the ends have been whittled to slight points. A long and thinner branch extends at right angles from the centre of this section, with a thickened woody knot at the junction of the two parts. This is slightly irregular in form, but essentially straight. Most of the surface has not been carved, but the bark has been removed, and the lower end has been sharpened to a point. The object is complete, but does have a series of splits running along the grain of the wood. The body, without its surface bark, is a light yellowish brown colour (Pantone 7509C). It has a weight of 86.2 grams and is 700 mm long, with the cross bar at the top having a length of 160 mm. This bar is 19.6 mm wide and 19 mm thick, while the body measures 13.5 by 13.4 mm across. An example of 'found form', only slightly modified for use.

Presumably collected by Evans-Pritchard during his period of fieldwork amongst the Anuak between early March and May 1935 (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Political System of the Anuak of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, p. 3).

This object was called
diganu by the Anuak, and is used in conjunction with a type of fishing harpoon-gaff known as the golo, which would be a hook with handle for landing heavy fish.

This object is currently on display in the Upper Gallery, case 28A.

Rachael Sparks 29/8/2005.

Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry [p. 410] - 1936 [insert] 10 [end insert] E. EVANS-PRITCHARD, M.A., Exeter College, Oxford. - Specimens collected by himself in the EASTERN SUDAN, while travelling with a Grant from the Rockefeller Leverhulme Trustees, viz: [p. 412] [insert] 28 [end insert] - Diganu , long wooden spike with T-shaped end, for stringing fish together through the gills. ANUAK. Used with the golo .
Additional Accession Book Entry [p. 411] - 1936.10.28 No given AP.

Card Catalogue Entry - This repeats the information given above, with the added detail that the golo is a harpoon-gaff [RTS 30/1/2004].

Written on object - Diganu , for stringing fish together through the gills. ANUAK, E. SUDAN. d.d. E. Evans-Pritchard, 1936 [RTS 25/8/2004].



 
Funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council
Help | About | Bibliography