Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection
Cast of a Trihedral Pick
Cast of an Acheulean, Lower Paleolithic, trihedral pick from Sidi Abderrahman, Casablanca-Anfa; Morocco, demonstrating bifacial flaking. Cast created and donated by the Institut de Paleontologie Humaine.
Incised Mace
Incised mace collected in Patzité, Guatemala, of unknown age, groundstone technique. Collected by Alan Bryan and Ruth Gruhn from a cathedral where it was being used as a candleholder, adhering wax is still present.
Excised Ceramic Stamp
Excised ceramic stamp collected from Teotihuacán, Mexico, of unknown age. The stamp depicts three circles enclosed by a rectangle with rays projecting from three sides, on the fourth side three triangles are arranged in alternating orientations.
Denticulate (serrated) Blade
Replica of an Upper Paleolithic denticulate (serrated) blade purchased in Les Eyzies, France, Dordogne. Sourced from L'Homo Sapiens novelty shop, the maker is unknown.
Engraved Ostrich Egg
Engraved ostrich egg collected from Gué, Botswana, the home range of the Kua people, in the 1970s by anthropologist Helga Vierich. The images depicted are symbolic representations of constellations done by a child in HB pencil
Ceramic Handle Sherd
Ceramic handle sherd collected in Rub al Khālī (Empty Quarter), Saudi Arabia by Ori Gordichuk during geophysical operations, unknown provenience. The surface of this ceramic is coated with a transparent turquoise glaze.
Excised Ceramic Brick Fragment
Excised ceramic brick fragment collected from Babylon, Iraq, of unknown age and provenance. The inscribed pattern is cuneiform text, currently untranslated.
Foot of a Mayan Mammiform Bowl
Foot of a Mayan mammiform bowl, purchased, 1967, in Chichicastenango, Quiché, Guatemala, sourced from a nearby prehistoric Mayan site. The flat surface (not visible) that formed the interior of the vessel is glazed
Hollow Base Projectile Point
Cast of a Hollow Base projectile point from Predynastic Egypt, approx. 7300-5300 years BP (Neolithic). Made by Pete Bostrom and purchased from Lithic Casting Lab in 2015.
Ceramic Anthropomorphic Head
Ceramic anthropomorphic head collected as a surface find from Teotihuacán, Mexico, age unknown. This figurine appears to depict an individual with an elongated skull or hair and stretched earlobes
Stemmed Obsidian Projectile Point
Stemmed obsidian projectile point collected from the Mayan village of Cantel, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, sometime between 1911-1969. Produced via the chipped-stone technique.
Ceramic Zoomorphic Whistle
Ceramic zoomorphic whistle from San Pablo Villa de Mitla, Oaxaca, Mexico, purchased from a local child, provenance unknown. Modelled after a bird.
Glass Bottle Neck
Glass bottle neck collected in Rub al Khālī (Empty Quarter), Saudi Arabia by Ori Gordichuk during geophysical operations, unknown provenience.
Polychrome Rim Sherd
Polychrome rim sherd from Jesusita Cemetery, Costa Rica, dated to the Middle Polychrome period, approx. 1150-750 years BP. Belonging to the stylistic group, “Mora Variety 2”.
Ceramic anthropomorphic heads
Ceramic anthropomorphic heads collected as surface finds from Teotihuacán, Mexico, age unknown. The left depicts an individual with an elongated skull or hair and stretched earlobes. The right likewise depicts an individual with stretched earlobes and adorned with a headdress.
Bichrome Rim Sherds
Bichrome rim sherds collected near Kayenta and Black Mesa peak, Arizona, USA by Dr. Ian Campbell, between 1964-1966. Notably, this region is home to the Navajo nation, part of the traditional lands of the Hopi people, and was home to several groups of Ancestral Puebloans.
Three examples of typical Aurignacian, Upper Paleolithic, Levallois Flake Tools
Three examples of typical Aurignacian, Upper Paleolithic, Levallois flake tools from the Dordogne region of France, collected by Clément Labrousse and Henri M. Ami in 1923. Left, two blades from the Le Ruth site near Le Moustier and, right, an end scraper-burin from Beune Valley.
Acheulean Amygdaloid Biface
Acheulean amygdaloid biface from Cagny-l'Epinette near Amiens, France, Lower Paleolithic. Collected by Henri M. Ami in 1924 and donated to the university as part of the eponymous Ami collection in 1994.
Aurignacian, Upper Paleolithic, Flake Tools
Three examples of typical Aurignacian, Upper Paleolithic, flake tools from La Rebière, Dordogne, France, collected by Clément Labrousse and Henri M. Ami In 1923. Left to right, we have an end scraper-burin, a burin, and an end scraper.
Excised Burnished Rim Sherd
Excised burnished rim sherd from Valdivia, Ecuador, collected in 1970 by Drs. Alan Bryan and Ruth Gruhn. Belongs to the formative (Preclassic) stylistic group, approx. 5450-3750 years BP.
Excised Spindle Whorl and Ground-stone/carved Figurine
Excised spindle whorl and ground-stone/carved figurine, purchased, 1967, in Chichicastenango, Quiché, Guatemala, sourced from a nearby prehistoric Mayan site.
Ceramic Applique Incense Burner
Ceramic applique incense burner, purchased, 1967, in Chichicastenango, Quiché, Guatemala, sourced from a nearby prehistoric Mayan site.
Obsidian Flakes and Cores
Obsidian flakes (center: right and left) and cores (left and right) from the Bonnichsen experimental collection. Dr. Robson Bonnichsen produced these using sand support and a stone hammer.
Mayan Eccentric Flint Shaped Like a Spider
Cast of a Mayan eccentric flint shaped like a spider from Guatemala. Produced by Pete Bostrom from the Lithic Casting Lab and purchased in 2015.
Casts of Organic Tools
Casts of organic tools from the Arctic made by Pamela Mayne-Correia. Left, needle blank made from bird bone, pre-Dorset culture, Crane site, Cape Bathurst, Northwest Territories. Middle, unilaterally barbed harpoon point made from antler, Athapaskan culture, Klo-Kut Phase, Dechyoo Njik site, Schaeffer Creek, Yukon Territory. Right, awl made from bone, Mackenzie Inuit culture, Hornaday River 15 site, Northwest Territories
Antler Fishing Spear or Leister
Cast of an antler fishing spear or leister, Inuinnait/ Kitlinermiut culture, NeRc-2 site, Northwest Territories. Produced by Pamela Mayne-Correia.
Lithic Projectile Points
Lithic projectile points from Teotihuacán, Mexico, surface collection, age unknown. Left, stemmed projectile point, right, Corner-notched projectile point.
Replicas of Triangular Saw-edged Bird Points
Replicas of triangular saw-edged bird points from Mexico purchased in the 1960’s by the U of A Geology Dept. from H. M. Lott. Left to right, we see points with a convex base, recessed base with rectangular shoulders, corner-notched, and concave base with basal notches.
Ground-stone Mace
Ground-stone mace from Peru, unknown provenance, purchased, 1970, in Cuzco by Drs. Alan Bryan and Ruth Gruhn
Acheulean Lanceolate Biface
Acheulean lanceolate biface from Thorel, Amiens, France, Lower Paleolithic. Collected and donated by Henri M. Ami as part of the Ami collection in 1994.
Flint Replicas of Decorative Nose Rings
Flint replicas of decorative nose rings from Mexico purchased by the U of A Geology Dept. from H. M. Lott, a dealer of Mesoamerican antiquities.
Aurignacian, Upper Paleolithic, Flint Tools
Aurignacian, Upper Paleolithic, flint tools from La Ferrassie, Dordogne, France, collected by Denis Peyrony, 1910, and acquired before donation by Henri M. Ami, 1923. Left, scraper-burin and, right, pointed-blade.
Utilized Flint Blaces
Utilized flint blades from La Ferrassie, Dordogne, France, collected by Denis Peyrony, 1910, acquired by Henri M. Ami, 1923, and donated, 1994. Aurignacian culture, Upper Paleolithic.
Retouched Flint Blade
Retouched flint blade from La Ferrassie, Dordogne, France, collected by Denis Peyrony, 1910, and donated by Henri M. Ami. Aurignacian culture, Upper Paleolithic.