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Mammiform Idol, ("Zemi")

National Museum of Natural History

Object Details

Donor Name
Dr. J. Walter Fewkes
LEDGER AND CATALOG CARD SAY CAST SENT TO STOCKHOLM MUSEUM, SWEDEN, 1914.
Anthropomorphic black stone Three Pointer.
From card: "This stone is made of a black rock, probably basalt, highly polished on the surface, which was formerly covered with a black resinuous substance, traces of which are stil visible. The face occupies the area between the top of the conoidal projection and the eye. Eyes large. Mouth open. Ears shaped like the figure 6. The places of the ear ornament are indicated by depressions, which formerly contained either a nugget of gold or a piece of shell. On the area of the image corresponding to the back of the head there is an elaborate incised decoration consisting of circles, triangles, and other markings. The base is slightly rounded and rough. Found in Bayaman. Ex. Exhibit Hall 23 9-17-74. Cast - exchange - to Berlin Museum, 1905. 1 cast - Hartman Ex. Riksmuseum, Stockholm, July 3, 1914. 1 cast - Ex. San Diego 1914."
Three-pointed stone that features the stylized head of a zemi figure; made of a solid black stone.
Record Last Modified
26 Aug 2021
Specimen Count
1
Culture
Classic Taino
Accession Date
1904
Accession Number
041087
USNM Number
A220621-0
Object Type
Zemi
Place
Puerto Rico, United States, Caribbean
See more items in
Anthropology
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
Topic
Archaeology
Record ID
nmnhanthropology_8053727
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3c65ba900-e064-462b-b3b8-d54987f1f0b0
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

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