Artefact of the Day July 20

The artefact of the day was actually found by Jonathan a couple of days ago – but recovered today when the context was ‘freed’. It is a decorated uluaq handle with ivory insets on the sides and on top. When cleaned we also discovered a little seal face had been carved on the side – the bearded seal design that we have seen on bowl bottoms, labrets, and masks… The carved thumb notch has been cleverly used as the mouth of the seal. That soon made this handle everybody’s favourite object of the day.