Zande rat trap
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1946.3.16
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] [Al Istiwa'iyah] [Equatoria] Bahr el Jebel Eastern Equatoria Western Equatoria
Cultural Group:
Lotuko [Otuho]
Date Made:
By 1946
Materials:
Cane Plant , Plant Thorn , Plant Fibre
Process:
Basketry
Dimensions:
L = 576 mm, W opening = 94 mm, Th opening = 70 mm, W body = 42.5 mm, Th body = 40.5 mm, W point = 13.5 mm, Th point = 11 mm, Diam twigs = 2.5 mm, W strips = 7 to 9 mm [RTS 7/7/2004].
Weight:
31.5 g
Other Owners:
J.S .Watson & J.S. Perry
Field Collector:
J.S .Watson & J.S. Perry
PRM Source:
J.S .Watson & J.S. Perry
Acquired:
Donated March 1946
Collected Date:
By 1946
Description:
Rat trap consisting of a rigid, elongated, tubular body that has an oval mouth at one end and tapers to a point at the other.
This has been made by taking 6 long strips of cane, 7 to 9 mm wide, and weaving them loosely together into an open hexagonal plaiting that is tighter near the mouth, with two oblique strands threading in and out between 6 vertical struts that run down the length of the body and help maintain its rigidity.
This creates a series of hexagonal openings down the sides through which the prey could see the bait inside the trap.
The strips appear to be jointed.
They have been gathered together at the base of the trap, where they are secured with a plant fibre strip wound around the ends and tied in a knot at the top.
The mouth of the trap has been armed by inserting three long thorny twigs inside the trap, so that they lie against the sides with the thorns angled downwards.
This would allow an animal to enter the trap without snagging itself, but would catch on its body if it tried to move backwards to leave it.
These twigs still have their light brownish gray surface bark in place (Pantone Warm Gray 6C).
Each has been fixed in place by two plant fibre ties, fastening them to the trap body near their top and bottom.
The trap is complete, although the surface of the cane is damaged in places; this is currently a light yellow (Pantone 7403C).
It is mm 576 long, measures 94 by 70 mm across the mouth opening, 42.5 by 40.5 mm across the body and 13.5 by 11 mm at the point, with a weight of 31.5 grams.
The twigs are have diameters of approximately 2.5 mm.
Collected by J.S . Watson and J.S. Perry in the Southern Sudan sometime before March 1946.
This kind of trap was used for catching field rats, Arvicanthis sp. The Lotuko place them in rat runs that the animals make through the grass; the rats run into them when their burrows are disturbed. The traps are destroyed to take out the rats which are then cooked and eaten.
Similar traps are used by the Zande to trap mice (see 1931.59.1-3), while Schweinfurth describes Bongo boys using basketry tubes to catch rats and field mice, as a source of food, or to use as bait in catching cats (G. Schweinfurth, 1873, The Heart of Africa Vol. 1, pp 273-4).
Currently on display in the Upper Gallery, case 51A.
Rachael Sparks 27/8/2005.
Collected by J.S . Watson and J.S. Perry in the Southern Sudan sometime before March 1946.
This kind of trap was used for catching field rats, Arvicanthis sp. The Lotuko place them in rat runs that the animals make through the grass; the rats run into them when their burrows are disturbed. The traps are destroyed to take out the rats which are then cooked and eaten.
Similar traps are used by the Zande to trap mice (see 1931.59.1-3), while Schweinfurth describes Bongo boys using basketry tubes to catch rats and field mice, as a source of food, or to use as bait in catching cats (G. Schweinfurth, 1873, The Heart of Africa Vol. 1, pp 273-4).
Currently on display in the Upper Gallery, case 51A.
Rachael Sparks 27/8/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[p.
50] - 1946.3.16 J.S.
WATSON and J.S.
PERRY; BUREAU of ANIMAL POPULATION; DEPT: OF ZOOLOGY and [p.
51] COMPARATIVE, ANATOMY, OXFORD.
ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN: - EQUATORIA PROVINCE (LATOUKA and other tribes); - Rat Trap, for catching field rats, ARVICANTHIS sp.; these traps are placed in runs made by the rats through the grass.
The rats bolt into them when their burrows are disturbed.
The traps are destroyed to take out the rats which are then cooked and eaten.
Additional Accession Book Entry [page opposite 50, in red biro] - A22.F5.35-36.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 1/6/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - RAT TRAP used by the Latouka and other tribes of South Equatorial Province, ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN for catching field rats, apvicanthis sp. The traps are placed in runs made by the rats through the grass. The rats bolt into them when their burrows are disturbed. The traps are destroyed to take out the rats which are then cooked and eaten. Pres. by J.S. Watson & J.S. Perry, Bureau of Animal Population, 1946.3.16, 7 March 1946 [circular metal-edged label with circular red sticker on back indicating object has been photographed]; 1946.3.16 Sudan [circular metal-edged tag; these labels not kept with object, stored in RDF file; RTS 13/1/2004].
Additional Accession Book Entry [page opposite 50, in red biro] - A22.F5.35-36.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 1/6/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - RAT TRAP used by the Latouka and other tribes of South Equatorial Province, ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN for catching field rats, apvicanthis sp. The traps are placed in runs made by the rats through the grass. The rats bolt into them when their burrows are disturbed. The traps are destroyed to take out the rats which are then cooked and eaten. Pres. by J.S. Watson & J.S. Perry, Bureau of Animal Population, 1946.3.16, 7 March 1946 [circular metal-edged label with circular red sticker on back indicating object has been photographed]; 1946.3.16 Sudan [circular metal-edged tag; these labels not kept with object, stored in RDF file; RTS 13/1/2004].
Display History:
Current display label - ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN, SOUTH EQUATORIAL PROVINCE.
Rat-trap used by the LATOUKA and other tribes for catching field rats.
The traps are placed in runs made by the rats through the grass.
The rats bolt into them when their burrows are disturbed.
The traps are destroyed to take out the rats, which are then cooked and eaten.
J.S.
Watson & J.S.
Perry of the Bureau of Animal Population, 1946.3.16 [typed, in case U.51.A; second copy of label in RDF file].
