Display Title: Ceramic Turtle Whistle
Digital Number: TCISVM-0018
Material Type: Ceramic
Time Period: Pre-colonial
Provenance: Savannah, Little Corn Island
Location: Private Collection in Savannah, Little Corn Island
Description:
A zoomorphic ceramic whistle depicting a sea turtle (Chelonioidea). It has a rounded shell with four appendages representing the fins, an appendage representing the neck and head, and an appendage representing the tail. The artefact is hollow with two orifices: one at the tip of the tail where air would be blown to produce sound and one at the top of the shell where the sound would be emitted. The whistle is still fully functional and continues to produce sound to this day when played properly. The artefact was recovered from a disturbed context in the contemporary neighborhood of Savannah, Little Corn Island, and is currently housed in a private collection. The ceramic whistle was painted in modern times by the current steward of the artefact. However, the natural brown color of the clay baked in an oxidizing environment can be observed inside the two orifices and on the chipped tip of the turtle’s left rear fin.
Additional Photos:
Photo Credits: Dr. Rigoberto Enrique Navarro Genie.