Human likeness

When we first recovered this hand-sized doll last summer at Nunalleq we thought that it was made from caribou antler. But with closer examination after cleaning it turns out to be carved from mammoth ivory. Fossil ivory was widely used and traded in SW Alaska and is one of the hardest organic materials to carve.

 

This doll head is simply carved but still conveys a lot of personality. Much of the original red ocher paint is still intact and there is a groove around the edge of the head which held a string which in turn held down hair. The oval dent below the mouth represents a labret, or lip plug.

 

One of the smallest wooden dolls in the Nunalleq collection. Tiny dolls like this may have been worn as amulets or included in charm boxes. The carver managed an impressive amount of detail despite its size.