Pitt Rivers Museum Anthropology and World Archaology

 

Americas

 

Flute necklace

Panama

 

Collected by Lilian Mabel Alice Richmond Brown and Frederick Albert Mitchell-Hedges

Given to the Museum in 1924

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This necklace was collected amongst the Kuna in Panama. It has 14 bone flutes attached to it, which are covered with incised decoration. The flutes are made of bird wing bones, probably pelican. Each flute has up to four finger-holes, and some have thumb-holes. The mouthpieces are blocked with wax to create a duct. Necklaces like these were worn by the kantule, or shaman healer, and they rattled as he walked. They were mainly worn by the kantule when dancing at puberty ceremonies.

View database record 1924.46.28