Nuer cattle peg
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1945.10.96
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Nuer
Date Made:
By 1936?
Materials:
Wood Plant
Process:
Carved
Dimensions:
L = 471, max W = 47.6, max th = 39.4; recess W = 33.7, th = 26.7 mm [RTS 28/6/2005].
Weight:
300.7 g
Local Name:
loc
Other Owners:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Field Collector:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated Found Unentered and accessioned October 1945
Collected Date:
1930 - 1931 or 1935 - 1936
Description:
Peg carved from a single piece of yellow wood (Pantone 7509C).
This consists of a narrow, flat-cut top, and cylindrical body that gradually expands towards the centre, before tapering in to a point at the other end.
A broad recess has been cut into the body, about one third the way along its length, to create a groove that can be used to hold a tethering rope.
The body is somewhat uneven, varying from oval to almost triangular in section.
It is complete, but has some roughly finished areas on one side which may be original, or represent slight damage during use.
The peg has a weight of 300.7 grams, and is 471 mm long, with a maximum diameter of 47.6 by 39.4 mm, and a recessed area that measures 33.7 by 26.7 mm across.
It was used for tethering cattle.
This object was probably collected when Evans-Pritchard did his fieldwork amongst the Nuer, with expeditions taking place in 1930, 1931, 1935 and 1936 (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer ; a map showing the areas visited is published in D.H. Johnson, "Evans-Pritchard, the Nuer, and the Sudan Political Service", African Affairs 81 no. 323 , p. 233).
This type of peg was used to tether cattle, and is called loc by the Nuer . For a similar peg in use, see the photograph published as the frontispiece of E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer. The Pitt Rivers example is mentioned by Blackman in his B. Litt. Thesis (A.A. Blackman, 1956, The Material Culture of the Nilotic Tribes of East Africa, p. 27).
Rachael Sparks 18/9/2005.
This object was probably collected when Evans-Pritchard did his fieldwork amongst the Nuer, with expeditions taking place in 1930, 1931, 1935 and 1936 (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer ; a map showing the areas visited is published in D.H. Johnson, "Evans-Pritchard, the Nuer, and the Sudan Political Service", African Affairs 81 no. 323 , p. 233).
This type of peg was used to tether cattle, and is called loc by the Nuer . For a similar peg in use, see the photograph published as the frontispiece of E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer. The Pitt Rivers example is mentioned by Blackman in his B. Litt. Thesis (A.A. Blackman, 1956, The Material Culture of the Nilotic Tribes of East Africa, p. 27).
Rachael Sparks 18/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[p.
3] - E.E.
EVANS-PRITCHARD, SCHOOL OF ANTHROPOLOGY, U.
OF CAMBRIDGE.
Gift previously received & not entered - 1945.10.96 - NUER.
Loc
, or cattle-peg of wood.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 23/7/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - 1945.10.96. NUER, loc , cattle-peg. d.d. E. Evans-Pritchard [circular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 28/6/2005].
Written on object - Loc , Nuer, cattle-peg [pencil; RTS 28/6/2005].
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 23/7/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - 1945.10.96. NUER, loc , cattle-peg. d.d. E. Evans-Pritchard [circular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 28/6/2005].
Written on object - Loc , Nuer, cattle-peg [pencil; RTS 28/6/2005].
Publication History:
Mentioned by Blackman in his B.
Litt.
Thesis (A.A.
Blackman, 1956, The Material Culture of the Nilotic Tribes of East Africa, p.
27).
