E0209: Inuit- Drilling Tools

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E0209A

Classification Category:

4:Tools & Equipment for Materials ➞ Woodworking T&E

Marks/Labels:

Tag: "Esquimaux Boring Machine - Nome Alaska" and "Eskimo boreing…?"

Materials:

animal ➔ bone
botanical ➔ wood
animal ➔ ivory

Dimensions:

31.5 cm L
8 cm W

Provenance of Object:

Alaska, U.S.

This object was held in the museum that Luther College started in 1877. This museum eventually grew into the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, and following this, non-Norwegian American ethnographic objects were returned to Luther and accessioned into the college’s Anthropology Collection. Without additional documentation, was likely obtained by the Luther College Museum (later the Norwegian-American Museum) between the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Production Date:

Late 19th Century-Early 20th Century

Use/Function:

Inuit Bow Drill
"One of the most important tools was the bow drill, used for starting fires and drilling holes in wood, bone, and ivory." - Langdon, Steve J. (1993) The Native People of Alaska. Greatland Graphics, Anchorage, Alaska. p. 30.

"Other tools were employed for other specific purposes: the bow drill pierced bone or wood." - Balikci, Asen (1970) The Netslik Eskimo. Waveland Press, Inc., Illinois. p. 3.

"The bow drill could perforate any kind of bone or wood object." -Balikci, Asen (1970) The Netslik Eskimo. Waveland Press, Inc., Illinois. p. 15-16.

"The drill fits into a stone socket imbedded in a block (wooden or ivory) which is held between the teeth, so that the point of the drill can be pressed down against the object to be drilled by the head, leaving both hands free to work the short bow." - Murdoch, John. Point Barrow Expeditions. p. 175.

Source Locality:

Nome, Alaska, USA

Description:

Inuit drilling tools made of bone, wood, leather, and ivory. The three pieces consist of a mouthpiece, drill, and bow. Used together these tools are able to drill into other objects such as ivory, to create holes. Donated by Rev. T.L. Brevig in 1898.

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