Artifact of the Month

This Kuba mask, known as Mbwoom, is predominately made of carved wood with cowrie shell and bead embellishments. Click the link to learn more.

This hand carved wooden top, known as a gasing, is from Sarawak, Malaysia. Click the link to learn about traditional competitions using the gasing.

The spathe is the woody part of a palm tree that surrounds the flower. Cultures in tropical areas use this part of the tree for a variety of purposes. Click the link to learn how this one was used in Papua New Guinea.

The Dogon people of Mali create ladders by carving wedges into tree trunks that fork at the top. Click the link to learn more.

Slit gongs (sometimes called slit drums) are a popular type of percussion instrument used by cultures in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Click the link to learn more.

Hats of this type are worn by the Yupik people of Alaska in the spring to protect against the sun’s glare. Click the link to learn more.