Dinka Tuich needle

Dinka Tuich needle
Other views of this artifact:


Accession Number:
1979.20.59
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Northern Bahr el Ghazal Dhangrial
Cultural Group:
Dinka Tuich
Maker:
Made by men.
Date Made:
By 1979
Materials:
Iron Metal , Wood Plant
Process:
Carved , Burnt ? , Stained ? , Pyroengraved Pokerwork , Burnished , Decorated Incised
Dimensions:
L = 72.7, L head = 13, W head = 11.8, diam pin = 2 mm [RTS 24/11/2004].
Weight:
2.4 g
Local Name:
with
Other Owners:
Purchased by Patti Langton for 25 piastres on 17th February 1979 as part of the British Institute in Eastern Africa's Expedition to the Southern Sudan [RTS 15/6/2004].
Field Collector:
Patti Langton
PRM Source:
Patti Langton
Acquired:
Purchased 1979
Collected Date:
17 February 1979
Description:
Short needle made from 2 pieces fitted together. The upper part consists of a handle carved from a single piece of yellowish brown wood (Pantone 7504C), that has been either stained or burnt a dark reddish brown in places (Pantone black 4C). This has a flat, disc-shaped head with straight sides that is oval in plan view, blackened on the upper surface, and decorated on the sides with 3 crosses burnt into the surface. Below this, the handle sides have been cut into to form a squat biconical section, also blackened, then an elongated cone with flat upper surface and concave sides that taper in to the base, where they join the needle body. This has been made from a short iron rod, round in section. The upper part has been fitted into the centre of the handle, which must have been partially hollowed out for this purpose; this has caused the end of the wood to split slightly. The lower part of the needle has been sharpened to a fine point. The needle is complete, but has some surface rust on the iron part. It has a weight of 2.4 grams, is 72.7 mm long, has a head that measures 13 by 11.8 mm across, and a needle diameter of 2 mm.

Purchased by Patti Langton at Dhangrial for 25 piastres on 17th February 1979 as part of the British Institute in Eastern Africa's Expedition to the Southern Sudan.
For a map showing the distribution of Dinka Tuich groups, see J. Ryle, 1982, Warriors of the White Nile: The Dinka , p. 25.

This object was used as a needle or hairpin, and was made by men. It was used for making winnowing trays, for mending gourds, for decorating objects and for fixing hair. It is known in Dinka as
with, a term which Nebel defines as: ‘arrow, needle; pin, nail, quill (of porcupine)' - suggesting that it was used to describe various types of sharp object (Nebel 1979, Dinka-English Dictionary, p. 94).

This object is currently on display in the Upper Gallery, case 26A

Rachael Sparks 30/9/2005.

Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry [p. 185] - 1979.20 (.1 - 206) P[urchase] MISS PATTI LANGTON, DEPT. of ETHNOLOGY & PREHISTORY, OXFORD. Collection made by Patti Langton during the British Institute in East Africa's expedition to the Southern Sudan; Jan. - April 1979. The collection was made in three culture areas during the dry season. The amount paid for each object is listed if the information is known. In Jan. 1979 £1 is equivalent to 95 piastres (pt.) Sudanese. This documentation is based largely upon Patti's own list of objects and her notes on these. Sometimes objects included in the Pitt Rivers alottment of the collection do not appear on her list and have been added here. See Related Documents file as well. [p. 191] 1979.20.43-135 SOUTHERN SUDAN the DINKA TUICH. The Dinka Tuich, a pastoral people, live to the north of Wau, in Bahr el Ghazal province. This collection was made mostly at Dhangrial, the archaeological site at which we camped. Other artifacts were collected either at Wun Rog, a small town about a mile south of Dhangrial, or at Mayen, the new administrative centre 12 miles north. This was a remote area, difficult of access and rarely visited by outsiders. The Dinka are very aware of the potential of money, which is used either to help family members acquire education or entry into commerce and administration in Juba or Khartoum. Once it was known we [insert] (the collectors) [end insert] were offering money, the Dinka in surrounding compounds came daily, increasing prices as often as they could! [p. 193] 1979.20.59 Iron hairpin or needle, with , mounted on a small carved and burnished wooden shaft made by men. Used for making winnowing trays, for mending gourds, for decorating objects and for fixing hair. L = 7.4 cm. Coll. in Dhangrial, 17.2.79. 25 pt. Coll. no. 128.
Additional Accession Book Entry [below accession number in red biro] - A5-F34-31.

Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 6/4/2004].

Related Documents File - 1979.20 contains a typed packing list, which has been annotated; a typed list of objects arranged by Langton collection numbers and with pencil and biro annotations, and a handwritten list of objects by museum number, essentially repeating this information and annotated with PRM photo numbers in red. This handwritten list seems to be the direct source for the accession book entry [RTS 12/1/2004].



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