Dinka tether rope

Dinka tether rope
Other views of this artifact:


Accession Number:
1934.8.12 .1
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] ?Warab Fanamweir
Cultural Group:
Dinka
Date Made:
By 1933
Materials:
Animal Hide Skin
Process:
Twisted , Knotted , Bound , Wound
Dimensions:
Extended L = 1250, w = 11, th = 10; shorter cord extended L = 590 mm [RTS 1/7/2005].
Weight:
210.3 g
Other Owners:
Collected by Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotton and his wife on 3rd May 1933 during a shooting expedition
Field Collector:
Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotton & Hannah Powell-Cotton (nee Brayton)
PRM Source:
Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotton
Acquired:
Donated 1934
Collected Date:
3rd May 1933
Description:
Cattle tether composed of 2 lengths of cord connected together. The cords are made from 2 narrow hide strips, each each twisted spirally along its length, then twisted together with the other piece to form a thick, 2 ply rope . The longer cord has been divided to form a small ring at one end, the surface of which has been bound with another hide strip to stiffen it. The loose end of that cord was then passed through this ring, to form an adjustable loop. A second, shorter cord with a loop at either end was then slipped over the body of the first cord. This has a knot part-way along its length, and one end has been bound round with additional hide. This cord is able to slide freely along the body of the longer piece. Finally, the loose end of the long cord was then tied in a simple knot, to prevent the sliding cord from becoming detached. The tether rope is complete, and currently a yellowish brown colour (Pantone 463C). There are occasional traces of buff and brown animal hair preserved on the surface. It has a weight of 210.3 grams, and is 1250 mm long when extended, with a width of 11 mm and thickness of 10 mm. The shorter length of cord has an extended length of 590 mm.

Collected by Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotton and his wife Hannah at Fanamweir on 3rd May 1933, during a shooting expedition. They did not record the Dinka name for this type of object.

Rachael Sparks 24/9/2005.

Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry [p. 248] 1934 [insert] 8 [end insert] - MAJOR P. H. G. POWELL-COTTON , Quex Park, Birchington, E. Kent. Specimens collected by himself & Mrs Cotton, during hunting trips, 1933, viz: - From the DINKA tribe, FANAMWEIR & KORNUK, WHITE NILE [...] [insert] 12 [end insert] - Twisted hide cord with nooses for tethering cattle, ib[idem] [FANAMWEIR] (2094).
Additional Accession Book Entry [p. 247] [in pencil] - ?Another piece of this (2213) [in ink; see record for 1934.8.12.2, RTS 1/7/2005] 1934.8.12 No given AP [in red biro] A20 F12 13 [note this image is of 1934.8.12.1 only, RTS 1/7/2005].

Card Catalogue Entry - SUDAN, WHITE NILE, FANAMWEIR, DINKA TRIBE. 2094. Twisted hide cord with nooses for tethering cattle [= 1934.8.12.1]. 2213. ? another piece of this (found unentered) [= 1934.8.12.2]. Collected by donor and his wife during hunting trips, 1933. d.d. Major P.H.G. Powell-Cotton, 1934. [insert] A20 F12 13 [end insert]. [note this image is of 1934.8.12.1 only, RTS 1/7/2005].

Pitt Rivers Museum label - (2094) Tether for cattle. DINKA, FANAMWEIR, WHITE NILE. 8° 55' N., 28° 42' E. d.d. Major Powell-Cotton, 1934 [rectangular metal-edged tag, tied to object]; 10/92 [small rectangular jeweller's tag, written in biro, tied to object; RTS 1/7/2005].

Related Documents File - Typewritten List of "Curios Presented to Dr. Balfour by Major & Mrs. Powell-Cotton. Dinka Tribe". This object appears as item 2094: "Hide cattle tether, 3/5/33 Fanamweir, 8.55 N, 28.42 E". Also contains details of a cine film 'some tribes of the Southern Sudan', taken by Powell-Cotton during this 1933 expedition, copies of which are now in the National Film and Television Archive and the Powell-Cotton Museum in Kent [RTS 14/3/2005].



 
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