Object Status:
Unlocated
Accession Date:
N.d.
Primary Source Reference:
John D. Godman, American Natural History. Part I. Mastology, 3 vols. (Philadelphia, 1826-1828), 2: 301 / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/49166020
Additional Source Text:
"The solid portion or shaft of the perfect horn is wrought by the Indians into a bow, which is highy serviceable from its elasticity, as well as susceptible of beauty of polish and form. Several of these bows may be seen in the extensive collection on Indian implements belonging to the Philadelphia Museum."
Notes:
The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, acquired this elk antler bow in 1899 (Object number 99-12-10/53062) from Moses Kimball's Boston Museum. Kimball and P. T. Barnum jointly purchased many of the Peale collections when they were sold about 1849.
The Mandan and Hidatsa were among the tribes known to have made sinew-backed bows from elk antlers. One of the Museum's elk antler bows could have come from Lewis and Clark.
