Northern Larim necklet
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1979.20.154
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Eastern Equatoria Kaga
Cultural Group:
Northern Larim
Date Made:
By 1979
Materials:
Glass , Plant Fibre
Process:
Strung , Twisted , Tied
Dimensions:
Diam across the necklace = 130 mm; approx. L = 185 mm; Diam beads = 3.5 mm, L beads = 3 to 4 mm [RTS 18/5/2004].
Weight:
15.9 g
Local Name:
nabong
Other Owners:
Purchased by Patti Langton for £2 on 23rd March 1979 for the British Institute in Eastern Africa's Expedition to the Southern Sudan [RTS 12/5/2004].
Field Collector:
Patti Langton
PRM Source:
Patti Langton
Acquired:
Purchased 1979
Collected Date:
23 March 1979
Description:
Necklace made of two strands of twisted yellow plant fibres (Pantone 7407C), each strung with a total of 98 short cylindrical opaque glass beads, the two lengths tied together at the top with a knot.
Both strands repeat the same design, comprising a group of coloured beads (2 black, 2 green, then 1 black), 11 white beads, a second coloured group (1 black, 2 green, 1 black), 27 white beads, a third coloured group (1 black, 3 green, 1 black), 26 white beads, a fourth coloured group (1 black, 2 green, 1 black), 11 white beads, and a final group of 1 black, 2 green and 2 black beads.
The repetition of this pattern gives the necklace a degree of symmetry that is not always present in local beadwork.
Each group of coloured beads has been joined just above and below by a short piece of fibre that fastens the two strands together using a figure-of-eight tie.
One of these ties is currently broken; apart from this and some minor chipping on the edges of some beads, the necklace is complete.
It has an approximate diameter of 130 mm and length of 185 mm.
The beads are very similar in diameter (3.5 mm), but vary slightly in length from 3 to 4 mm.
The colours appear consistent; opaque white, opaque green (Pantone 7489C) and opaque black (Pantone black 6C).
The necklace has a weight of 15.9 grams.
Purchased by Patti Langton at Kaga village in the Karuwo Clan area on 23rd March 1979 for £2, as part of the British Institute in Eastern Africa's Expedition to the Southern Sudan.
This necklace is made of older beads, that the Larim can no longer obtain. It was being worn by a young girl, around 9 years old, at the time it was found, and is known as nabong. This type of bead appears on trade bead cards of the early 20th century under the name 'pipe beads', and they appear in neighbouring cultures such as the Toposa (1979.20.206, in green), the 'Imatong' (1940.7.087, in light blue and green), as well as further afield amongst the Bari (1940.7.013, in white, dark blue and black), Anuak (1936.10.66) and on the 'Upper Nile' (1942.1.446).
Rachael Sparks 8/9/2005.
Purchased by Patti Langton at Kaga village in the Karuwo Clan area on 23rd March 1979 for £2, as part of the British Institute in Eastern Africa's Expedition to the Southern Sudan.
This necklace is made of older beads, that the Larim can no longer obtain. It was being worn by a young girl, around 9 years old, at the time it was found, and is known as nabong. This type of bead appears on trade bead cards of the early 20th century under the name 'pipe beads', and they appear in neighbouring cultures such as the Toposa (1979.20.206, in green), the 'Imatong' (1940.7.087, in light blue and green), as well as further afield amongst the Bari (1940.7.013, in white, dark blue and black), Anuak (1936.10.66) and on the 'Upper Nile' (1942.1.446).
Rachael Sparks 8/9/2005.
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 alootment of the collection do not appear on her list and have been added here.
See Related Documents file as well.
[p.
204] 1979.20.136 - 193 SOUTHERN SUDAN the LARIM The Larim live about 50 miles west of Kapoeta in the eastern corner of S.
Sudan.
They are a non-Nilotic pastoral people, living in permanent mountain villages.
They are part of the Didinga-Longarim-Murle language group.
They live in the Boya Hills - Boya is the Topasa (neighbouring group) name for the Larim, which is also used by the Administration.
Longarim is the Didinga's name for them but they call themselves the Larim, and that is used here.
[p.
205] The LARIM The collection was made in two parts.
The "PL" labelled material was collected during Pat Langton's stay in a village in the Northern Larim area.
The "∆" labelled material was collected by Jill Goudie, one of the archaeologists on the Expedition, from the base camp LARYOK, among the Southern Larim.
Money is known among the Larim but it is used only for buying beads for women from Kapoeta, or for the few members of the group who would go to Juba.
The women especially were more interested in exchange gifts of salt, cloth & soap.
The Larim material is documented in three parts: a) General Larim pieces - no information as to which section of the Larim it comes from b) the "PL" Collection from the Northern Larim, from three of the eight Northern Larim clans c) the Southern Larim material collected by Jill Goudie, numbered "∆".
1979.20.149 - 154 NORTH LARIM/BOYA; KOYOK CLAN AREA, TIRINGOT VILLAGE; 23-3-79.
[p.
208] 1979.20.154 Necklace,
nabong
- an example of older beads no longer obtainable.
This was being worn by a young girl around 9 years old.
Purchased in Karuwo clan area; Kaga village.
Diam = 13 cm.
Coll.
no.
PL 34 Cost £2.
Additional Accession Book Entry [below accession number in red biro] - A5-F35-15.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 24/5/2004].
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. Although this item appears in Langton's list under the heading 'Purchased in Koyok clan area, Tiringot village', the entry states that it was purchased at Kaga village in the Karuwo clan area. This object appears on a packing list, under 'Box 2. Longarim. [one of] 3 bead ornaments' [RTS 12/1/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, SUDAN, Kaga Northern LARIM, Karawo clan area Necklace of older beads, worn by young girl Purchased Patti LANGTON [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 11/7/2005]
Additional Accession Book Entry [below accession number in red biro] - A5-F35-15.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 24/5/2004].
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. Although this item appears in Langton's list under the heading 'Purchased in Koyok clan area, Tiringot village', the entry states that it was purchased at Kaga village in the Karuwo clan area. This object appears on a packing list, under 'Box 2. Longarim. [one of] 3 bead ornaments' [RTS 12/1/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, SUDAN, Kaga Northern LARIM, Karawo clan area Necklace of older beads, worn by young girl Purchased Patti LANGTON [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 11/7/2005]
