Dinka Tuich bowl
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1979.20.54
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Northern Bahr el Ghazal Dhangrial
Cultural Group:
Dinka Tuich
Date Made:
By 1979
Materials:
Gourd Plant
Process:
Hollowed , Dried , Decorated , Burnt , Pyroengraved Pokerwork
Dimensions:
Ht = 140, L rim = 284, W rim = 237, th rim = 4 mm [RTS 25/3/2005].
Weight:
187.9 g
Local Name:
adwok anyel [aduok anyäl]
Other Owners:
Purchased by Patti Langton for 75 piastres on 18th 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:
18 February 1979
Description:
Gourd bowl consisting of a narrow flat-topped rim, slightly flattened on one side and with a solid swollen flat-topped lug extending from the rim opposite, reflecting the shape of the base and neck of the original plant; this rim sits on a hemispherical body with convex underside, and is oval in plan view.
The interior has been hollowed and the shell dried out, and is now a matt yellow (Pantone 7508C), covered with numerous insect bore holes.
The exterior is smooth and a dark orange colour (Pantone 724C), with a few patches of the surface skin remaining.
The upper rim and lug surfaces have been blackened for decorative effect (Pantone black 6C), while on the exterior a heated blade has been used to add a series of bands around the upper body.
These consist of 3 parallel lines around the circumference, with the spaces between filled with hatched triangular motifs arranged as 2 broad bands; the overall effect is of a running pattern made up of a central hatched lozenge (actually 2 triangles reflected from the central line), with one triangle balanced above, and another below.
Underneath this series is a further black band, made up of multiple short incised lines, from 4 to 7 cuts in thickness.
The bowl is complete and intact, and has a weight of 187.9 grams.
It is 140 mm high, 264 mm long and 237 mm wide, with a rim thickness of 4 mm.
Purchased by Patti Langton at Dhangrial for 75 piastres on 18th 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.
Langton does not specify how this particular bowl was used, but similar vessels such as 1979.20.50 are said to have been used as plates for eating from by men or female guests. Its local name is adwok anyel. Nebel gives the definition for Aduok, pl. aduk, as a large bowl, and Anyäl, pl. Anyel, as a calabash with drawings (A. Nebel 1979, Dinka-English Dictionary, p. 5, 10) - Langton suggests that anyel just means decorated. These vessels were decorated by women; the pattern was first marked out in charcoal, then using a type of needle called a with , before scoring over the marks using a heated spear or knife blade; for another example of this technique, see 1979.20.91. The museum collection also includes an iron with, 1979.20.59.
Rachael Sparks 17/8/2005.
Purchased by Patti Langton at Dhangrial for 75 piastres on 18th 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.
Langton does not specify how this particular bowl was used, but similar vessels such as 1979.20.50 are said to have been used as plates for eating from by men or female guests. Its local name is adwok anyel. Nebel gives the definition for Aduok, pl. aduk, as a large bowl, and Anyäl, pl. Anyel, as a calabash with drawings (A. Nebel 1979, Dinka-English Dictionary, p. 5, 10) - Langton suggests that anyel just means decorated. These vessels were decorated by women; the pattern was first marked out in charcoal, then using a type of needle called a with , before scoring over the marks using a heated spear or knife blade; for another example of this technique, see 1979.20.91. The museum collection also includes an iron with, 1979.20.59.
Rachael Sparks 17/8/2005.
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.
192] 1979.20.54
Adwok anyel
similar to 1979.20.50; L = 26.5 cm., W = 24 cm.
Coll.
in Dhagrial, 18.2.79; 75 pt.
Coll.
no.
109.
Additional Accession Book Entry [below accession number in red biro] - A5-F33-21.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 03/03/2004].
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].
Written on object - 109 [pencil]; S. SUDAN, DINKA TUICH, P. Langton Coll. 109, 1979.20.54 [ink; RTS 23/3/2005].
Additional Accession Book Entry [below accession number in red biro] - A5-F33-21.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 03/03/2004].
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].
Written on object - 109 [pencil]; S. SUDAN, DINKA TUICH, P. Langton Coll. 109, 1979.20.54 [ink; RTS 23/3/2005].
