E0842: Cactus Spines

Ethnographic

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Identifier:

E0842

Classification Category:

10:Unclassifiable Artifacts ➞ Unmodified

Marks/Labels:

Tag on old index card: "CACTUS THORNS All family villages and often the individual's huts are hedged in with these cactus hedges which often row to a height of 15 feet. Full of small almost invisiable thistles as well as larger thorns, they are a constant source of trouble to bare feet, hands, naked bodies, and even the eyes, often festering and causing no end of trouble when not removed in time. (Madagascar)"

Materials:

botanical ➔ Thorn

Dimensions:

11.5 cm L
0.5 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.

Source Locality:

Madagascar

Description:

Six cactus thorns that are various shades of bronw.

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