Harpoon socket for winter harpoon

Rather than understanding the Old Bering Sea harpoon as an uniform, one-size-fits-all, technology, Yupiit Elders have explained the difference between “winter” and “summer” harpoon. There are also differences in sizes of harpoon heads related to hunting specific animals. This walrus ivory Old Bering Sea harpoon socket piece, as part of the Old Bering Sea harpoon, is what contemporary Yupiit Elders have described as part of the “winter” harpoon. [1] The “winter” harpoon was heavier and this closed harpoon socket would have allowed the shaft to be attached with a skin rope through the hole. Although different in style from the open-socket harpoon socket housed at SVCA (UAE 1113), this example also belongs to the mid Old Bering Sea era somewhere between 700 and 900 AD. [2] Elegant curves and circles are brought together in geometric designs through double lines with spurs. A somewhat similar harpoon socket has been housed in the Bellier Collection. [3]

There is still little known about the origins of toggling harpoons, but they certainly existed prior to the Old Bering Sea culture. Neither do we know much about the exact origin story of the OBS harpoon other than that the Old Bering Sea culture had already figured out how to assemble this advantaged technology. [4] Contemporary Yupiit, however, do teach us more about the relationship between hunting equipment, well-being, and spirituality. Beautiful hunting equipment appeases the animals who subsequently give themselves to the hunter. [5] Aesthetically pleasing objects, like intricate harpoon socket, thus ensured (more) successful hunting and subsequently provided food and materials. With the care and devotion that OBS carvers made such beautiful objects, like this harpoon socket piece, we can assume that there existed a similar relationship.

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