E0283: Inuit- Harpoon Floater

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E0283

Classification Category:

4:Tools & Equipment for Materials ➞ Fishing & Trapping T&E

Materials:

animal ➔ hide/skin ➔ leather

Dimensions:

97 cm L
38 cm W

Provenance of Object:

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.

Use/Function:

Was inflated and attached to a harpoon to slow down struck animal and to keep harpoon and animal from sinking.

Source Locality:

Alaska, USA

Description:

Long rectangular Inuit bag made of animal skin. It would've been inflated and attached to a harpoon to slow down a struck animal and to keep the harpoon and animal from sinking.

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