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Start Over Media available image Culture or time period Sumatran cultures
Hearst Museum object titled Amulet, accession number 18-1017, described as Amulet, bone, incised figures and inscription; Batak characters on one side, other side has two anthropomorphic protective spirit figures (”pinarhalak”), one six-pointed sign and one curvilinear design (”bindu matoga”); elongated triangle perforated at narrow end. Made from incised rib from sacrificed water buffalo. Used as a protective amulet worn by warriors under the headcloth to ward off bullets, missiles, and lethal blows. Other used: hung on the roof post of the house during ritual hand washing; worn by menstruating women to ward off ghosts and spirits that might cause illness; the figures are apotropaic, and the inscription is a spell summoning certain spirits. Length 17.3 cm.
Hearst Museum object titled Amulet, accession number 18-1018, described as Amulet, bone, triangular; one side has incised Batak characters and one anthropomorphic protective spirit figure (”pinarhalak”); on other side is incised curvilinear design (”bindu matoga”) perforated at narrow end. Made from incised scapula. Used as a protective amulet worn by warriors under the headcloth to ward off bullets, missiles, and lethal blows. Other used: hung on the roof post of the house during ritual hand washing; worn by menstruating women to ward off ghosts and spirits that might cause illness; the figures are apotropaic, and the inscription is a spell summoning certain spirits. Length 12.3 cm.
Hearst Museum object titled Amulet, accession number 18-941, described as Amulet, bone, section of rib, with incised figures of a mythical fish and bird on one side and a Batak inscription on the other; perforation on one end. Made from rib bone of sacrificed water buffalo. Used as a protective amulet; worn by warriors under headcloth to ward off bullets, missiles, and lethal blows; other uses: hung on the roof post of the house during ritual hair washing; worn by menstruating women to ward off ghosts and spirits that might cause illness; the figures are apotropaic, and the inscription is a spell summoning certain spirits. Length 13.5 cm.
Hearst Museum object titled Amulet, accession number 18-1016, described as Amulet, bone, incised figures and inscription; Batak characters on one side, other side has anthropomorphic protective figures (two) (“pinarhalak”), curvilinear design (”bindu matoga”) and a five-pointed star (”tapak silima lima”); elongated triangle perforated at narrow end. Made from incised rib from sacrificed water buffalo. Used as a protective amulet worn by warriors under the headcloth to ward off bullets, missiles, and lethal blows. Other used: hung on the roof post of the house during ritual hand washing; worn by menstruating women to ward off ghosts and spirits that might cause illness; the figures are apotropaic, and the inscription is a spell summoning certain spirits. Length 18.7 cm.
Hearst Museum object titled Amulet, accession number 18-940, described as Amulet, bone; one side covered with inscription in Batak characters; other side has a protective spirit figure, a seven-pointed star, and eight-armed and four-armed cross; triangular shape, perforation near apex. Made from scapula of a sacrificed water buffalo. Used as a protective amulet; worn by warriors under the headcloth to ward off bullets, missiles, and lethal blows; other used: hung on the roof post of the house during ritual hand washing; worn by menstruating women to ward off ghosts and spirits that might cause illness; the figures are apotropaic, and the inscription is a spell summoning certain spirits. Length 16.5 cm
Hearst Museum object titled Blow gun, accession number 18-65, described as Blowgun
Hearst Museum object titled Book, accession number 18-942, described as Book, written in Batak character in black ink on a long piece of bark folded like an accordion. A magician’s book for controlling spirits. Width 6 cm.
Hearst Museum object titled Book, accession number 18-1543, described as Book, bark, with dark brown wooden covers, one of which has a gecko in relief; the bark folds accordion-fashion, written on both sides in Batak script of Indic derivation; includes diagrams of supernatural spirits and apotropaic signs. Contains formulas for carrying out certain exorcisms and rituals. It is a mnemonic device for Batak sorcerers. 18 x 13.6 x 3 cm.
Hearst Museum object titled Calendar, accession number 18-945, described as calendar inscribed in Batak script on a joint of bamboo; Context of use: calendar divided into 12 months of 30 days each; used for determining lucky and unlucky days for various undertakings, especially marriages and wars. Sometimes the magician spins it into a dish of water and reads the upper visible portion as an augury
Hearst Museum object titled Lid with figurine, accession number 18-1019b, no description available.

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