Split-Twig Figurine- Grand Canyon, AZ

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Institution: Southwest Virtual Museum

State: Arizona

Object: Figurine

Era: Archaic Period

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Split-Twig figurines are hand made objects found throughout Southwestern cave sites, particularly at the Grand Canyon.

Archaeologists believe that the figurines symbolized the animals found within the geographic area. However, scholars continue to question their function and purpose. Early interpretations suggested that split-twig figurines were examples of “magico-religious totems”. Alternatively, the figurines are also classified as simple, children’s toys.

Langley (2018) believes these figurines functioned as toys based on three factors. Split-Twigs are natural resources accessible to children. The figurines model adult tools (i.e. the “spear” seen above). Lastly, most figurines were stored in spaces that only small children would be able to access.

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Sources:

• Schwartz, Douglas W., Arthur L. Lange, and Raymond deSaussure. "Split-twig figurines in the Grand Canyon." American Antiquity 23.3 (1958): 264-274.

• Jett, Stephen C. "Grand Canyon Dams, Split-Twig Figurines, and" Hit-and-Run" Archaeology." American Antiquity (1968): 341-351.

• Langley, Michelle C., and Mirani Litster. "Is It Ritual? Or Is It Children?." Current Anthropology 59.5 (2018): 000.

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