Figurines from Adindan, Cemetery T, at the University of Chicago Oriental Institute Museum
Clay Figurine (Inv. No. E23202)
Description:
This medium-sized figurine (9.7 x 5.1 x 4.7 cm) can be gripped comfortably in an adult hand and can be held and manipulated using the thumb and two fingers. The head was modeled and fired separately from the body and then attached by inserting the long neck into a cavity prepared at the base of the head. The figure is truncated at the hips with the base widened for stability. It is capable of standing unaided on a flat surface.
Location:
Found at the SW corner of the burial shaft of Grave 51.
The body had been removed, but the figurine was found along with one incised C-Group clay jar. At the SE corner of the shaft was a second C-Group clay jar.
Bibliography:
Wenig (1978): 128 (No. 18)
Williams (1983): 97, 98, 136 (T-51), Pl. 103
Fragment of Clay Figurine (Inv. No. E23486)
Description:
This large figurine torso fragment (9.8 x 8.0 x 3.8 cm) fills the palm of an adult human hand but, if complete, could have been held using one or both hands and manipulated in the grip of one hand. The head technology is impossible to identify due to the damaged neck. Although broken off at the hips, the arched back indicates that the original pose was ambiguous and might have been understood as seated and leaning back or standing and leaning slightly forward.
Location:
Found SE of the superstructure of Grave 154.
The body had been removed. Several other objects associated with this burial may have come from the shaft and include: 15 black glaze beads, 195 blue glaze beads, 23 diorite beads, and 1 ostrich eggshell bead.
Bibliography:
Williams (1983): 97, 98, 162 (No. T 154), Pl. 102.B
Fragment of Clay Figurine (Inv. No. E44466)
Description:
This figurine head (2.2 x 2.5 x 2.1 cm) was modeled with a cavity in the base, presumably for attaching to a clay body or other object.
Location:
Found inside the superstructure of Grave 205.
The grave held the body of a probably mature male. A clay water jar with potmark was found S of the superstructure. Along with the figurine, sherds of two incised bowls and sherds of a C-Group clay jar were found. In the grave shaft itself were objects including: Shell fragments (Chicoreus), remains of galena, 209 carnelian beads, 173 diorite beads, 488 blue to green glaze beads, and 1 ostrich eggshell bead.
Bibliography:
Williams (1983): 97, 98, 176 (No. T205), Pl. 102.A
Fragment of Clay Figurine (Inv. No. E23969)
Description:
This medium-sized figurine lower torso and leg fragment (7.5 x 4.5 cm) lies almost fully across the palm of an adult hand. In its original condition, complete with upper body and both sides, it could have been held in the palm of one hand with the forefinger outstretched to support the head and it could have been manipulated with the thumb and fingers. The original pose was ambiguous and might have been understood as seated and leaning back or standing and leaning slightly forward.
Location:
Found in the burial shaft of Grave 207.
The grave held the body of an adult, perhaps male. Also found, but from unspecified locations, were: 1 quartz pebble and sherds of an incised bowl.
Bibliography:
Williams (1983): 97, 98, 177 (No. T207), Pl. 102.C
Head of a Male Figurine (Inv. No. E44464)
Description:
This very unusual head (4.8 x 5.4 x 3.9 cm) is identified as male by the excavators based on the length of the chin and horizontal incised lines on the chin that were believed to represent a beard.
Location:
Found in the burial shaft of Grave 217.
This grave held the body of a mature male. Also found in the burial shaft were many pebbles, 13 carnelian beads, 1 or 2 green faience beads, and 148 blue glaze beads.
Bibliography:
Williams (1983): 97, 98, 179 (No. T217), Pl. 104-105
Works Cited:
Williams, Bruce, B. C-Group, Pan Grave, and Kerma Remains at Adindan Cemeteries T, K, U, and J. Chicago: The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 1983.
Wenig, Steffen. Africa in Antiquity: The Arts of Ancient Nubia and the Sudan, II. (The Catalogue). New York: The Brooklyn Museum, 1978.