The Guna (Kuna) people live predominantly on the San Blas Islands off the Atlantic coast of Panama with a population of approximately 50,000. The Guna believe that sickness and disease are caused by poni, malevolent spirits that enter a person’s body and capture his or […]
Khanga (also spelled kanga) cloths are brightly printed rectangular cotton textiles that are very popular in East Africa. Khangas measure approximately 45” by 65” and are distinguished by their vibrant central design (mji) surrounded by a colorful border (pindo). Khangas are an important medium of […]
This wooden figure is from the lower Ramu River area in the Lower Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. An area of remarkable linguistic and cultural diversity, roughly 200 groups speaking distinct languages live in this region on the northern coast of mainland Papua New […]
The archaeological remains of the Neolithic Majiayao culture were discovered in northwestern China in the early 20th century. While more than 2000 sites have been identified, less than 3% of them have been excavated. Painted pieces of pottery are the most famous artifacts recovered from […]
Among the last of the Plains tribes to surrender to the U.S. Cavalry, the Kiowa have shared an Oklahoma reservation with the Comanche since 1868. A member of the Kiowa tribe made this strike-a-light case in the mid-1880s. The small pouch was used to carry […]