Bow Drill
Unknown Artist
10th century
Medium
Ivory (walrus)
Dimensions
H. 3/4 x W. 20 in. (2 x 50.8 cm)
Classification
Bone/Ivory-Implements
Culture
Punuk
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, The Houghton Foundation Inc. Gift, 1979
Accession Number
1979.410
Art Historical Context
Step into the ancient world of the Punuk people with this remarkable 10th-century bow drill, a masterful implement from the Bering Strait region of the Arctic. Crafted by an unknown artist from the Punuk culture—known for their seafaring prowess and close ties to marine life—this slender tool exemplifies the ingenuity of early Arctic societies. Measuring just 3/4 inch high and 20 inches long its compact form was designed for precision: the bow drill used a bowstring to rotate a shaft, creating holes in bone, ivory, or wood for crafting tools, jewelry, and hunting gear essential to survival in ...