IDNO

T.131992.MST

Description

On Strathern's listing: Dei Council (on Minj-Kotna road). Council house / houses of kuskus (secretary / admin) / empty houses, all recently built. (Kunai grass thatch on roof; walls made of woven pitpit (cane) in sections called blan (‘blind’).) Australian flag.

Place

Oceania Melanesia; Papua New Guinea; Western Highlands Province; Dei Council area

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Strathern, Marilyn (later Prof., Dame)

Collector / Expedition

Date

14 February 1964

Collection Name

Strathern Collection

Source

Strathern, Marilyn (Prof., Dame)

Format

Colour Transparency

Primary Documentation

Other Information

T.131959.MST - T.131992.MST were identified by Marilyn Strathern as Set 2.

Context: blan = Pidgin term for woven pitpit (cane grass) mat or wall covering, i.e. a ‘blind’. [Strathern's Glossary word document, JD 4/24/2017]

Context: kunai = Pidgin term for a type of tall grass used in thatching. [Strathern's Glossary word document, JD 4/27/2017]

Related Object: MAA 1968.230 A+B "Bow and bowstring. Bow made of reddish wood which appears to have been further stained with ochre, with horizontal black lines painted across it at intervals of 1 1/2"-2 1/2". This 'decorated' the bow back. Such bows are ornamented when they are carried at pig-killing festivals as part of the ceremonial gear. In five cases the black lines have been infilled to form panels - so that the bow would look as though it were striped red and black. The bow is 46" long and has a knob at each end to hold the string. The string is made of pitpit (wild sugar cane grasses) Strings also made of bamboo." From Wiru, Mount Hagen Area. Donated by A.M. and A.J. Strathern, 1967. [JD 4/25/2017]

A grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation Historical Archives Program supported the documentation and preservation of the Strathern photographic collection. [JD 6/11/2017]