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Catalog Data

Collector:
Dr. Joshua A. Bell  Search this
Donor Name:
National Museum of Natural History  Search this
Length - Basket Only:
37.5 cm
Length - Handle:
27.5 cm
Total Length:
65.5 cm
Width:
34.5 cm
Culture:
Bena  Search this
Object Type:
Bag
Place:
Goroka Town, Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia
Accession Date:
17 May 2017
Collection Date:
8 Mar 2010
Notes:
Donor notes: Cost, 40 kina. Bilum (string bag) made of interlocking figure eight loops of twisted bark fiber rope known as isocusäbe (Bena term). This bilum was made for sale and sold at the Goroka bilum Market by Nancy Bune. A migrant from Bena region of the Eastern Highlands, Nancy has lived in Goroka for 10 years. As with other women in the market, Nancy sells her bilums to tourists and other Papua New Guineans as a way to earn money for her family. Sold for 40 kina. The bilum is nearly rectangular and dyed naturally, with varying shades of tan and brown. There does not seem to be a pattern to the areas that are darker or lighter. There is one small area in the lower right corner that has store dyed green thread. Handle looped on, made in a way consistent with the rest of the bilum, single handle.
Record Last Modified:
22 Aug 2019
Specimen Count:
1
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
2058626
USNM Number:
E435152-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3f58e9903-d211-4ec8-8681-813063d3829e
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_13851231