Effigy Plummet, Form of Turtle Head or Bird
Arts of the Americas
These plummets (hanging weights, sometimes used on fishing lines) are among more than three hundred that have been found in a site north of Weeden Island, Florida. Their abundance has led to the theory that they were probably not simple fishing tools but ornaments suspended from the neck or waist of high-status individuals (or perhaps commoners) during special ceremonial dances. Often they are plain tapered stones, but rare figurative examples such as these three represent local wildlife.
MEDIUM
Stone
DATES
200–500 C.E.
PERIOD
Middle Woodland Period
ACCESSION NUMBER
64.211.1
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Mrs. William B. Parker
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Plummet in the form of a carved turtle or a bird head. The end is tapered possibly for tying on a cord for suspension. Suggested uses for these types of plummets are: weights to be used in weaving, sinkers for fishing, personal talismans or ornamental pendants suspended from the neck or waist either by the elite class or by commoners for dance performance display. There is an early sketch of several dancers wearing such plummets dangling from their waists entertaining what appear to be elite people. Hundreds of these plummets have been found mostly just tapered so these are especially fine as carved to represent local fauna.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Woodlands, Deptford culture. Effigy Plummet, Form of Turtle Head or Bird, 200–500 C.E. Stone, 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (8.9 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. William B. Parker, 64.211.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 64.211.2_64.211.1_64.211.3_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
64.211.2_64.211.1_64.211.3_PS9.jpg.
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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What is this?
This is an effigy plummet by a Woodlands artist of the Deptford culture. It may have been used as a weight, either for fishing or weaving, or worn as a personal adornment. It comes from Florida and is just under two thousand years old.
The plummets are fairly naturalistic depictions of animals native to the Floridian region. Hundreds of these plummets have been found to date.
