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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
DIMENSIONS 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (8.9 x 8.9 cm)  (show scale)
COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas
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.
EXHIBITIONS
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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Woodlands, Deptford culture. <em>Effigy Plummet, Form of Turtle Head or Bird</em>, 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)