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SMITHSONIAN PHOTO DESCRIPTIONS

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ACRANE

Science-Nature East African Crowned Crane

East African Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps), at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C.

ANUBIS

Tech-History An Egyptian Anubis Figure

An Egyptian Anubis Figure - wooden, carved, jackal of mummification. Luxor, Ptolemaic Period, ca. 3000 B.C. From the Western Civilization exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

BAG

Tech-History A "Recyclia" Shopping Bag

In Africa, recycling is the real thing. This durable shopping bag from Kenya was woven entirely from discarded plastic strips used to tie down boxes during shipping. Anthropologists are taking increased interest in these everyday, recycled objects which they call "recyclia".

BASKET

Tech-History Baskets, Blanket, Drum

Baskets, Blanket, Drum, showing the unique adaptation of African traditions to objects made by 18th century African-Americans. From "After The Revolution: Everyday Life In America 1780-1800" at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

==Smithsonian Photo by Jeffrey Ploskonka.

BUFLO1

A saddle with accessories: ammunition belt, campaign hat, and revolvers, from the exhibit "Buffalo Soldiers: African Americans in the 9th & 10th Cavalry Regiments," an exhibition honoring the services of the post-Civil War soldiers.

Between 1866 and 1890, black cavalry soldiers fought on the Western frontier in the Cheyenne Indian War, the Red River War, the Ute War, the Apache War, the Sioux War of 1890 and other battles. The men of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments earned an outstanding record for fidelity and bravery in spite of the racial prejudice and discrimination they experienced.

The exhibit displays government-issue cavalry uniforms, a buffalo-skin overcoat, saddle and photographs of Frederic Remington drawings, as well as a Sioux quirt carved in the image of a Buffalo Soldier.

According to legend, the Indians named these men "Buffalo Soldiers" because their tight curly hair and fighting spirit reminded them of the buffalo. The term soon came to be applied to all African American soldiers of the time.

BUFLO2

A period photo of a 25th Infantryman wearing a buffalo-skin overcoat from the exhibit "Buffalo Soldiers: African Americans in the 9th & 10th Cavalry Regiments," an exhibition honoring the services of the post-Civil War soldiers.

BUFLO3

A period photo of a Buffalo Soldier in uniform from the exhibit "Buffalo Soldiers: African Americans in the 9th & 10th Cavalry Regiments," an exhibition honoring the services of the post-Civil War soldiers.

BUFLO4

Buffalo Soldier Uniform: dress coat and trousers 1872, helmut 1881, and reproduction cavalry gauntlets from the exhibit "Buffalo Soldiers: African Americans in the 9th & 10th Cavalry Regiments," an exhibition honoring the services of the post-Civil War soldiers.

BUFLO5

The handle of this riding quirt, carved by a Sioux Indian around 1880, is a stylized representation of a Buffalo Soldier. It may have been made as a souvenir for an African American soldier, or as a talisman for an Indian warrior. From the exhibit "Buffalo Soldiers: African Americans in the 9th & 10th Cavalry Regiments," an exhibition honoring the services of the post-Civil War soldiers.

BULMUM

A bull mummy, (200 B.C. - 200 A.D.) from Dashur, Egypt. As displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

CANOPC

Tech-History Ancient Egyptian Canopic Jar

Canopic Jar and Lid, used in ancient Egypt to hold organs of an embalmed body. This jar is alabaster, carved and painted, representing the baboon god, Hapi. From the Western Civilization exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

CYPJUG

Tech-History Ancient Barrel-Shaped Ceramic Jug From Cyprus

A barrel-shaped ceramic jug from Cyprus, ca. 1050-725 B.C., with painted, circular designs, one handle and central orifice. Objects such as this were traded extensively in the Mediterranean. From the Western Civilization exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

ELPHNT

Science-Nature

An African Bush Elephant standing in the rotunda of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The African Bush Elephant is the largest modern land mammal.

GORILA

Science-Nature Mother and Infant Lowland Gorilla

A mother and infant Lowland Gorilla, (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C.

GORLA1

Science-Nature Adult Male Lowland Gorilla

An adult male Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C.

GORLA2

Science-Nature Gorilla "Supermom" At the National Zoo

Zoos have become centers of hope for animals. Mandara, a lowland western gorilla at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., has been described as something of a "supermom." Mandara adopted Baraka Ya M'welu, the infant in her arms. Mandara's own offspring, Kejana, stands beside her.

IBIS

Tech-History Egyptian Ibis Figure

An Egyptian Ibis figure, made of bronze and wood, representing Thot, god of wisdom and science. From the Upper Nile at Tuna-el-Gebel necropolis. Displayed in the Western Civilization exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. A gift from President Eisenhower.

KBEES

Science-Nature Africanized "Killer Bees" On Comb

"Killer Bees," or Africanized honey bees, descended from an African form of the common domestic honeybee. Indistinguishable from common honey bees, except by experts, they are far more dangerous due to their extreme aggressiveness and persistence in attacking.

==Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Photo by Carl C. Hansen. Not to be reproduced without written permission.

LAMP

Tech-History "Recyclia" Kerosene Lamps

In Africa, recycling is the real thing. These two kerosene lamps were fashioned from old cooking-fat tins and an insect spray can. Anthropologists are taking increased interest in these everyday, recycled objects which they call "recyclia".

MANDLA

Newly elected South African President Nelson Mandela photographed during a visit to the United States in 1990, shortly after his release from prison.

A longtime leader and symbol of the black struggle against white minority rule in South Africa, Mandela was sentenced in 1964 to life in prison for sabotage, treason, and conspiring to overthrow the government. After his release from prison in 1990 Mandela was named head of the African National Congress (ANC) and began to negotiate the political future of a post-apartheid South Africa and reshape the ANC into a mass-based political party.

MUMMY

Tech-History

The inner and outer mummy coffins of Tenst-Khonsu, a priestess of the god Amon- Ra, Egypt, Circa 1000 B.C. Part of the Western Civilization exhibit in the National Museum of Natural History.

MUMMY1

Tech-History Egyptian Mummy Mask

An Egyptian Mummy Mask. Female, wooden, painted and carved, Fayum, 18th Dynasty, ca. 1400 B.C. From the Western Civilization Exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

MUMMY2

Tech-History Three Mummy Figures

Three Mummy Figures - Mold made, faience (glazed earthenware), blue-green, Egypto-Roman, 725-600 B.C., found on Cyprus. From the Western Civilization exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

PELE

Pele's Soccer Uniform - When Brazilian soccer star Pele, (Edson Arantes Do Nascimento), joined the New York Cosmos soccer team in 1975, his outstanding performances were the catalyst for soccer to gain additional popularity as an American spectator sport.

The impact of the foreign-born on American sports has been enormous. Both as spectator and participant, various nationalities have joined together to cheer, fight, win and lose together. Superstars such as Pele, Korbit, and Killy have become adopted and adored by Americans, to then turn into legends and be revered long after their athletic careers have ended.

PERIDT

This 310-carat fine-quality peridot from Zebirget, Egypt, is the largest known. Peridot is the gem name for a yellow-green mineral that occurs in volcanic rock. The mineral's species name is forsterite. Most of the world's supply in mined in Arizona, hand-hammered out of basalt. A transparent gem, peridot has a distinctive oily luster. The color ranges from pale golden-green to brownish green. The most valuable stones are a rich deep green.

ROTUND

Science-Nature Elephant In Natural History Museum Rotunda

An overhead view looking down on the African Bush Elephant in the rotunda of the Smithsonian's National Museum, of Natural History.

SCARAB

Tech-History Egyptian Winged Scarab and Pendant

Egyptian Winged Scarab and Pendant. Both are faience, or glazed earthenware, mold-made, Luxor, New Kingdom, ca. 1000 B.C. From the Western Civilization exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

SPHINX

Tech-History Greco-Egyptian Carved Stone Sphinx Figure

A carved stone Greco-Egyptian Sphinx figure, "Tutu". From the Western Civilization exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

STELE

Tech-History An Egyptian Funerary Stele

An Egyptian Funerary Stele - limestone, incised and painted hieroglyphs and feast scene, Abydos, 18th Dynasty, ca 1400 BC. From the Western Civilization exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

TOY

Tech-History A "Recyclia" Toy Truck

In Africa, recycling is the real thing. This toy dump truck made of discarded wire is an example of what Kenyans call "jua kali". Anthropologists are taking increased interest in these everyday, recycled objects which they call "recyclia". This truck was probably made by a boy for his personal use.

VICTRA

Science-Nature Victoria-Transvaal Diamond

The dazzling pendant of this diamond and gold necklace is the 68-carat, champagne-colored Victoria-Transvaal diamond, which was discovered in South Africa in 1951. From the gem and mineral collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

ZOO07

Science-Nature A Barbary Macaque At The National Zoo

A Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus) from the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. The Zoo, with more than 3 million visitors annually, promotes awareness of the need to save vanishing animal populations worldwide.

=Smithsonian Photo by Jessie Cohen. Not to be reproduced without written permission.