Dinka Tuich ladle

Other views of this artifact:

Accession Number:

1979.20.55

Country:

Sudan

Region:

[Southern Sudan] Northern Bahr el Ghazal Dhangrial

Cultural Group:

Dinka Tuich

Date Made:

By 1979

Materials:

Gourd Plant

Process:

Hollowed , Dried , Decorated , Burnt , Pyroengraved Pokerwork , Perforated

Dimensions:

Ht = 85, rim L = 170 (with handle), rim W = 167, rim th = 4 mm; handle L = 35, diam hole = 4 mm [RTS 25/3/2005].

Weight:

52.8 g

Local Name:

biny anyel

Other Owners:

Purchased by Patti Langton for 50 piastres on 18th February 1979 as part of the British Institute in Eastern Africa's Expedition to the Southern Sudan [RTS 15/6/2004].

Field Collector:

Patti Langton

PRM Source:

Patti Langton

Acquired:

Purchased 1979

Collected Date:

18 February 1979

Description:

Gourd ladle consisting of a narrow flat-topped rim on a hemispherical body with convex base. The rim is slightly compressed on one side with a narrow tapering handle extending from the rim opposite, which represent the base and neck of the original plant; both areas have been blackened, as has the top of the rim. A circular hole has been bored through the end of the handle using a heated tool. The interior is roughly textured, and a strong yellow colour (Pantone 7508C), while the exterior is a smooth yellowish orange (Pantone 7509C). This has been decorated by using a heated blade to draw a series of parallel lines around the upper body, which were then blackened between to form 2 thick bands around the circumference (Pantone black 7C). In one section, there are additional lines that have not been fully coloured in. The bands are irregular and vary in width. The ladle is complete and intact; there are 2 horizontal pencil marks on the inside walls below the handle. It has a weight of 52.8 grams, and is 85 mm high, 170 mm long, including the handle, and 167 mm wide, with a rim thickness of 4 mm and handle length of 35 mm; the hole through the handle has a diameter of 4 mm.

Purchased by Patti Langton at Dhangrial on 18th February 1979 for 50 piastres, as part of the British Institute in East Africa's expedition to the southern Sudan. For a map showing the distribution of Dinka Tuich groups, see J. Ryle, 1982, Warriors of the White Nile: The Dinka , p. 25.

This type of ladle is called biny anyel, and is used to drink water, milk or beer from a large container. The term biny translates as ‘cup, drinking glass’ (Nebel 1979, Dinka-English Dictionary, p. 16), and anyäl, pl. anyel , means a gourd decorated with drawings (Nebel 1979, Dinka-English Dictionary, p. 10).

Langton describes this method of decorating Dinka gourds in her entry for accession number 1979.20.91, with the pattern being marked out in charcoal, and then with a type of needle called a with (for this tool, which is made of iron, see 1979.20.59), which is then scored over using a heated spear or knife blade. This particular ladle has been decorated in a style very similar to bowl 1979.20.53, also from the Dinka Tuich.

Rachael Sparks 25/9/2005.

Primary Documentation:

Accession Book Entry [p. 185] - 1979.20 (.1 - 206) P[urchase] MISS PATTI LANGTON, DEPT. of ETHNOLOGY & PREHISTORY, OXFORD. Collection made by Patti Langton during the British Institute in East Africa's expedition to the Southern Sudan; Jan. - April 1979. The collection was made in three culture areas during the dry season. The amount paid for each object is listed if the information is known. In Jan. 1979 £1 is equivalent to 95 piastres (pt.) Sudanese. This documentation is based largely upon Patti's own list of objects and her notes on these. Sometimes objects included in the Pitt Rivers alottment of the collection do not appear on her list and have been added here. See Related Documents file as well. [p. 191] 1979.20.43-135 SOUTHERN SUDAN the DINKA TUICH. The Dinka Tuich, a pastoral people, live to the north of Wau, in Bahr el Ghazal province. This collection was made mostly at Dhangrial, the archaeological site at which we camped. Other artifacts were collected either at Wun Rog, a small town about a mile south of Dhangrial, or at Mayen, the new administrative centre 12 miles north. This was a remote area, difficult of access and rarely visited by outsiders. The Dinka are very aware of the potential of money, which is used either to help family members acquire education or entry into commerce and administration in Juba or Khartoum. Once it was known we [insert] (the collectors) [end insert] were offering money, the Dinka in surrounding compounds came daily, increasing prices as often as they could! [p. 192] 1979.20.55 Biny anyel [gourd ladel] similar to 1979.20.51; ragged string attached. L = 17.2 cm. Coll. in Dhangrial, 18.2.79; 50 pt. Coll. no. 113.
Additional Accession Book Entry [below accession number in red biro] - A5-F33-22.

Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 6/4/2004].

Related Documents File - 1979.20 contains a typed packing list, which has been annotated; a typed list of objects arranged by Langton collection numbers and with pencil and biro annotations, and a handwritten list of objects by museum number, essentially repeating this information and annotated with PRM photo numbers in red. This handwritten list seems to be the direct source for the accession book entry [RTS 12/1/2004].

Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, Sudan, Dhangrial. Dinka Tuich. Decorated gourd ladle. Biny anyel . Coll. P. Langton, no. 113. 1979.20.55 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 23/3/2005].

Written on object - 113 [pencil]; S. SUDAN DINKA, P. Langton Coll. 113, 1979.20.55 [ink; RTS 23/3/2005].