Liliia Zdor and her team* talk about the use of the ritual ladle

"This ladle, made of wood, shows small cracks that are also visible on the handle. At the end of the handle, there is a chip. The scoop has brown stains, indicating it was heavily used.

The ladle was used as a vessel for 'watering' a slaughtered reindeer. In the eastern part of Chukotka, this ritual is still practiced. The reindeer is killed in such a way that it falls on its right side, with its head facing east after being speared. The ladle is then used to scoop water from a special bucket and to provide water to the sacrificed animal. Water is continuously poured onto its snout, as well as onto the puncture wound and the tail. Once the animal has been 'intoxicated' in this way, the women begin to butcher it. The hide is removed from the reindeer and laid on the ground to dry. The body is then placed with its head pointing toward the yaranga. The slaughtered reindeer is eventually brought into the tent, laid on a bed of brushwood, and butchered. All ritual items such as utensils, the bucket, spear, and ladle are stored in a special sack — the nurkirchir — which is placed on a designated sled. This sled is kept in the northern part of the yaranga, behind the sleeping area."

* Liliia Zdor, Galina Etul', Irina Gyrgol'naut, Irina Nutetgivev and Mark Zdor.

Selfrecorded. Fairbanks, 2024.