University of Northern Iowa

Anthropology

Archaeology (the study of ancient human culture) and ethnology (the study of recent and living people) are the two major sections in the anthropology collection.

The archaeological collection comes from North and West Africa, the Middle East, Western Europe, the Andes, Mesoamerica, the Great Plains, and the Great Basin areas.

The ethnographic collection includes artifacts from the Andes, Amazon, Mesoamerica, Circum-Caribbean, East and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, West Africa, Melanesia, and Polynesia.

Displaying 1 - 100 of 7429
Cat. # Name Description
1 1968.10.494.0008 Chip, stone None
2 2002.17.0001 Point, Projectile Corner notched; medium lenticular; oblique flaking pattern. Color: GY,BL,PK
3 1970.78.17.1.0003 Armband Braided. Braided part is 6" long with loose fibers extending 23". Color: TN
4 1972.81.1.4.0072 Sherd, pottery No design. Piece of pottery. Color: GY
5 1968.10.0115 Stool Wooden stool, carved from one piece of wood. The stool is comprised of four legs that connect in the center with a conical seat. 1968.10.0115 (Stool) image
6 1970.41.3.0028 Point, projectile None
7 1979.10.9.0068 Bead Quasi-rectangular, pierced. Color: WH
8 1968.10.493.0073 Chip, stone None
9 1972.81.1.4.0008 Sherd, pottery No design. Piece of pottery. Color: GY
10 1968.10.0013 Instrument An Kon Koma. Marimba instrument of Temne tribe. The language around the opening is Temne and says, "Great is the love I have for thee." It is made from a hollow box, with a semi circular opening. In front of the opening are metal spokes that, when tapped, create sound. 1968.10.0013 (Instrument) image
11 1979.10.9.0006 Bead Round disk-like, hole drilled at one side. Color: BR,BK
12 1984.9.0002 Birch bark None
13 1972.81.1.5.0014 Sherd, pottery Incised design. Color: GY
14 1968.10.493.0009 Chip, stone None
15 1970.41.3.0060 Point, projectile None
16 1972.81.1.1.0019 Sherd, pottery Gray with black design. Part of rim. Design painted on the inside. Color: GY,BK
17 1968.10.493.0105 Chip, stone None
18 00.70.0015 Point, projectile Hunting arrowhead.
19 1972.81.1.4.0040 Sherd, pottery No design. Piece of pottery. Color: GY
20 1973.80.3.27.0008 Postcard Metate with the head of a macaw; grinding stone for corn. Color: RD,TN
21 1979.10.9.0038 Bead Ring-shaped; hole in center. Color: WH
22 1968.10.493.0041 Chip, stone None
23 1970.41.3.0092 Point, projectile None
24 1972.81.1.1.0051 Sherd, pottery Gray with 3 black stripes. Design painted on the inside. Color: GY,BK
25 1968.10.494.0009 Chip, stone None
26 1969.15.0001 Carving Large carved wood bust, in profile. The hair is conical shaped with checkered etches. The shirt is vertically striped with a collar. 1969.15.0001 (Carving) image
27 1970.78.17.1.0004 Armband Braided. Braid is 6" long with loose fibers extending 25". Color: TN
28 1972.81.1.4.0073 Sherd, pottery No design. Piece of pottery. Color: GY
29 1970.41.3.0029 Point, projectile None
30 1979.10.9.0069 Bead Quasi-rectangular, pierced. Color: TN
31 1968.10.493.0074 Chip, stone None
32 1978.46.0040 Mat Woven natural grass, multi-colored (natural, royal purple, green, black), reinforced edges, tri-fold. Color: ML
33 1972.81.1.4.0009 Sherd, pottery No design. Piece of pottery. Color: GY
34 1979.10.9.0007 Bead Irregular shape disk with hole drilled at one side. Color: BR,BK
35 1984.9.0003 Birch bark None
36 1972.81.1.5.0015 Sherd, pottery Incised design. Color: GY
37 1968.10.493.0010 Chip, stone None
38 00.54.17.0013 Manuscript Written by a Philippine boy--(dated 1669)? "Many horses could teach boys a lesson in tenderness. We fed him as much as he wanted; we took him out to drink as much as he liked, and we rubbed and brushed him with great care. Spirit and industry as high as we were able to reach. He took a bundle of hay and began to clean one of the horse's legs."
39 1970.41.3.0061 Point, projectile None
40 1972.81.1.1.0020 Sherd, pottery Gray with black pointed esigns extending from rim. Design painted on the inside. Color: GY,BK
41 2015-3-3 Statue, Fipa A wooden standing female figure on a professional wooden base. Her legs are apart with right arm resting on her side and left arm pointing to her ear. The feet are quite large with repair to the left foot. The head is round with open mouth, coffee-bean eyes, and narrow nose. There is a hole ( cavity) on top of her head. Multi-colored beads are attached to the neck. No scarification marks can be found. The figure is in good condiditon except as stated plus a small split from the head to the left eye and white stain on the left breast. The figure dates to the mid to late 20th century. 2015-3-3 (Statue, Fipa) image
42 1968.10.493.0106 Chip, stone None
43 1978.46.0073 Plate Woven elephant grass, natural tan color, 3/4" rimmed edge. Color: TN
44 1972.81.1.4.0041 Sherd, pottery No design. Piece of pottery. Color: GY
45 1973.80.3.27.0009 Postcard Human figure in clay from the Diguis region. Color: BL,RD,CR
46 1979.10.9.0039 Bead Small ring shape with large hole in center. Color: WH
47 1968.10.493.0042 Chip, stone None
48 1970.41.3.0093 Point, projectile None
49 1978.46.0007 Carving Yoruba idol, wooden carving of human figure, enlarged facial features, large headdress, beads wrapped around waist, dark brown colored wood, two round metal pieces in eyes, narrow neck, long arms, mounted on own base. 1978.46.0007 (Carving) image
50 1972.81.1.1.0052 Sherd, pottery Rust with brown design. Design painted on the inside. Color: RD-BR, BR
51 1968.10.494.0010 Chip, stone None
52 1997.5.0016 Cap Garrison style cap of deep red velvet is lined and decorated with glass beads. Each side has 2 groups of three flowers plus 2 separate flowers, and is outlined with a narrow border resembling a twisted cord of beads. Top of hat has a bead trim, a rectangular shape crisscrossed between the corners to form an "X". This motif is also in the twisted cord design. Cap folds flat. Color: RD,CL,GR 1997.5.0016 (Cap) image
53 1969.15.0002 Carving Yoruba Ibeji dolls. Laterally compressed to acute ridge from top of forehead to back of neck; prominent facial features, 3 vertical gashes on each cheek; female with very prominent breasts. Posture of both leaning slightly forward. Colored with brown to reddish-brown chalky paint, shiny in various places. a. Male. b. Female. 1969.15.0002 (Carving) image
54 1970.78.17.1.0005 Headpiece Ponytail; braided. Loose fibers below braid, 28" long. Color: TN
55 1972.81.1.4.0074 Sherd, pottery No design. Piece of pottery. Color: GY
56 1970.41.3.0030 Point, projectile None
57 2017-17-21 Standing Drum Standing drum leaning on two wooden bent attachments.There are vertical etches down the bottom 2/3 of the drum. There are five wooden spokes that protrude from the top of the etchings that hold down the drum head with string. 2017-17-21 (Standing Drum) image
58 1979.10.9.0070 Bead Quasi-rectangular, pierced. Color: TN
59 1968.10.493.0075 Chip, stone None
60 00.54.6.0005 Cane Carved. Gummed label.
61 1972.81.1.4.0010 Sherd, pottery No design. Piece of pottery. Color: GY
62 1978.15.0059 Point, projectile Chipped; notched on both sides of base.
63 1979.10.9.0008 Bead Blade shape tapering to a point at one end. Color: BR,BK
64 1984.9.0004 Bark Bark.
65 1972.81.1.5.0016 Sherd, pottery Incised design. Color: GY
66 1968.10.493.0011 Chip, stone None
67 1970.41.3.0062 Point, projectile None
68 1972.81.1.1.0021 Sherd, pottery Gray with black stripe at rim and black design. Design painted on the inside. Color: GY,BK
69 2015-3-4 Staute, Zande Related Wooden female standing figure on a professional wooden base. Her legs are spread apart and very short, her arms are suspended to her sides. The shoulders are square with a very thick neck and an oval-shaped head. The circular eyes are deep-set with a narrow nose and closed slit mouth. Her coiffure is double braided and sweeping behind the head. The figure is brown in color and in good condition. The figure dates to the mid to late 20th century. 2015-3-4 (Staute, Zande Related ) image
70 1968.10.493.0107 Chip, stone None
71 1978.46.0074 Plate Woven elephant grass, natural tan color, 3/4" rimmed edge. Color: TN
72 2016-18-1 Mask An egg-shaped wooden Punu Mask with circular-shape and downcast slit eyes, flat nose and bulbous closed lips. Full coiffure on both sides of the head and a bun on the top of the head. Metal clam-shape iron rattle is attached above the head adn bells are around the lower part of the head. Cotton cloth wrapped around the perimeter of the mask creating a concept of a beard. The mask dates from the mid to late 20th century. 2016-18-1 (Mask) image
73 1972.81.1.4.0042 Sherd, pottery No design. Piece of pottery. Color: GY
74 1973.80.3.27.0010 Postcard Authentic Pre-Columbian necklace and statues from Costa Rica. Color: PK,GY,WH
75 1995.37.0032 Fur fragment To be attached to bound bamboo and inserted at small end of gourd used for phallocrypt. Color: BR
76 1979.10.9.0040 Bead Shell conical spiral, light color underneath; hole drilled at top (large end). Color: TN
77 1968.10.493.0043 Chip, stone None
78 1978.46.0008 Carving Yoruba twin idol, wooden carving of human figure, enlarged facial features, large carved headdress, dark brown colored wood, narrow neck, eyes and headdress have been colored with blue chalk, mounted on own wood base. 1978.46.0008 (Carving) image
79 1972.81.1.1.0053 Sherd, pottery Gray with black border. Looks like part of the bottom of a piece of pottery. Design painted on the inside. Color: GY,BK
80 1972.81.1.2.0001 Sherd, pottery Gray with brown circle design. Part of rim. Design painted on the outside. Color: GY,BR
81 1968.10.494.0011 Chip, stone None
82 1970.78.17.1.0006 Palm fibers Bundle. Color: TN
83 1972.81.1.4.0075 Sherd, pottery No design. Piece of pottery. Color: GY
84 1970.41.3.0031 Point, projectile None
85 1979.10.9.0071 Bead Quasi-rectangular, pierced. Color: WH
86 1968.10.493.0076 Chip, stone None
87 1972.81.1.4.0011 Sherd, pottery No design. Piece of pottery. Color: GY
88 1995.37.0001 Bow Strung. Bow has lunate shape since it is strong. Outside face of bow is 75% soot covered from one tip past the median & partially toward the other tip, which is raw light colored wood. Bowstring is 1/4' wide resilient fiber (inner bark?). Knotted at both ends. A finer fiber on the bow tips beneath the bow string knots. The entire inside face of the bow is smoother & less rough than the outside face. Color: TN,BR
89 1979.10.9.0009 Bead Blade shape tapering to a point at one end. Color: BR,BK
90 1984.9.0005 Moccasin Child's. Beaded.
91 1972.81.1.5.0017 Sherd, pottery Incised design. Color: GY
92 1968.10.493.0012 Chip, stone None
93 1970.41.3.0063 Point, projectile None
94 1972.81.1.1.0022 Sherd, pottery Design painted on the inside. Gray with black stripe at rim and black square designs. Color: GY,BK
95 2015-3-5 Mask, Chokwe Large wooden mask in classic Chokwe style that includes coffee-bean eyes, narrow nose and flaring nostrils. Oval open mouth exposing rows of teeth. Vertical and geometric scarification marks below the eyes, chin, and head area. The mask is in good condition and holes are pierced  around the perimeter for attachments (missing). The mask dates to the late 20th century. 2015-3-5 (Mask, Chokwe) image
96 1968.10.493.0108 Chip, stone None
97 2016-18-2 Mask A wooden oval-shaped Pende Mask with sweeping eyebrows, classic Pende heavy eyelids, narrow nose and set of two vertical scars on both cheeks. The mask is red in color and in good condition. Holes are pierced around the perimeter for attachments, though there are none. The mask is in good condition except normal wear due to use and age and dates to the mid-20th Century. 2016-18-2 (Mask) image
98 1972.81.1.4.0043 Sherd, pottery No design. Color: GY
99 1973.80.3.27.0011 Postcard Breast plate in sheet gold from the Diguis region. Color: BK,GD
100 1979.10.9.0041 Bead Shell conical spiral; hole drilled at top (large end). Color: GY
CSV