Imatong amulet
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1940.7.084
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] [Al Istiwa'iyah] [Equatoria] Eastern Equatoria ?Jebel Imatong
Cultural Group:
[Imatong]
Date Made:
By 1940
Materials:
Grass Fibre Plant , Gourd Plant , Earth? , Resin Plant? , Animal Dung?
Process:
Twisted , Knotted , Strung , Perforated , Plugged
Dimensions:
Total L (as originally strung) = 205, diam cord =2, amulet L = 57.7, diam top = 15, diam base = 22.5 x 23.4, interior cavity diam = 14, diam suspension hole = 2.5 mm [RTS 2/3/2005].
Weight:
9.5 g
Other Owners:
Samuel P. Powell
Field Collector:
Samuel P. Powell
PRM Source:
Samuel P. Powell
Acquired:
Loaned July 1940
Collected Date:
By 1940
Description:
Amulet consisting of a cord made from 3 strands of brown grass fibre twisted together (Pantone 465C), onto which has been strung an amulet.
The cord was originally knotted together at the top, but one end has subsequently frayed and broken.
The amulet has been made from the curving end of a yellow gourd plant (Pantone 7509C), and has a closed top and narrow round sectioned body that gradually widens towards its base, where it has been cut flat.
A suspension hole has been bored through the sides, near the top end.
The interior of this appears to be hollow, and appears to contain an unknown material that rattles around inside; this is not visible, as the mouth has been plugged with a dark brown wad of mud, dung or possibly resin, pushed into the opening to give it a concave surface (Pantone black 7C).
The amulet is complete, but with a broken string.
It has a weight of 9.5 grams.
The amulet is 57.7 mm long, with a diameter at the top of 15 mm, and at its base of 22.5 by 23.4 mm; the interior cavity has a diameter of 14 mm, and the suspension hole is 2.5 mm wide.
The cord has a diameter of 2 mm.
As originally strung, the amulet and its cord have a length of 205 mm.
Collected by Samuel P. Powell and given to the museum on loan in 1940. It is said to come from the 'Imatong' tribe, who are presumably a group located somewhere around Jebel Imatong, which is a mountain peak in Southeastern Sudan, in Eastern Equatoria, south of Torit.
This item is said to be used as a charm.
Rachael Sparks 30/9/2005.
Collected by Samuel P. Powell and given to the museum on loan in 1940. It is said to come from the 'Imatong' tribe, who are presumably a group located somewhere around Jebel Imatong, which is a mountain peak in Southeastern Sudan, in Eastern Equatoria, south of Torit.
This item is said to be used as a charm.
Rachael Sparks 30/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[Loans II, p.
308] - ESTATE OF S.P.
POWELL, C/O N.H.
HASLAM, Esq.
Manager, Westminster Bank, Stony Stratford, Bucks.
Collected by himself.
Data from his labels and notes.
[p.
313] From the IMATONG TRIBE.
EQUATORIAL PROVINCE, ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN.
1940.7.084 - Charm, consisting of the small curved end of a gourd containing a black greasy substance, on fibre string.
Related Documents File - Appears on undated typed list: "Imatong ... a charm containing some mixture". List is annotated by hand on back: "List of Curios" and "Far from complete" [RTS 16/12/2003].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - Charm - end of gourd containing greasy mixture. IMATONG. S.P. Powell [brown luggage tag, tied to object; RTS 2/3/2005].
Related Documents File - Appears on undated typed list: "Imatong ... a charm containing some mixture". List is annotated by hand on back: "List of Curios" and "Far from complete" [RTS 16/12/2003].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - Charm - end of gourd containing greasy mixture. IMATONG. S.P. Powell [brown luggage tag, tied to object; RTS 2/3/2005].
