Zoomorphic figure

This polar bear is distinguished by its elongated neck, as if in a foraging position. The eyes are deeply pierced and the muzzle well defined, signs of the earliest animal sculptures in this region.

This sculpture was extracted from permafrost during excavations at the Kukulik (kookoolik) site, north of St. Lawrence Island, famous for its archaeological digs between 1931 and 1935, directed by Otto Wm. Geist with support from the University of Alaska.

The bear is accompanied by a cub, probably from the Punuk civilization period.

Price: €8,500