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Perevalova E. Women’s Needle Case in the Cultures of the Samoyeds and Ob-Ugrians of Northwestern Siberia

E. Perevalova
Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) of the RAS
St. Petersburg, Russia
ORCID: 0000-0002-9480-715X
E-mail: Elena_Perevalova@mail.ru

 

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ABSTRACT. The myths, legends, rites, and beliefs preserved among the Samoyedic peoples (Nenets, Selkup) and the Ob-Ugrian peoples (Khanty, Mansi) associated with the needle case and its indispensable companions — the needle and the thimble — indicate that this is a very ancient cultural stratum. The archaic nature of the needle case is proven by archaeological finds from sites in Northwestern Siberia. The study of archaeological artifacts and museum exhibits combined with field ethnographic materials enables broad ethnocultural comparison and interpretation. The article traces the evolution of needle cases from the earliest tubular bone types to later soft textile versions. The consistency of shapes and fabrication techniques suggests that the needle case is one of the most conservative elements of material culture, revealing deep ethnocultural layers and mechanisms of continuity. Special attention is paid to the semiotic status of the needle case and its accompanying objects. The article examines the ritual aspects of its use and its place in life-cycle ceremonies. The correlation between the utilitarian and sacred functions of the needle case shows how an everyday household item simultaneously serves as a bearer of cultural information, reflecting mythological concepts, gender identity, and social norms.

 

KEYWORDS: needle case, needle, thimble, traditions, boundaries, Samoyeds (Nenets, Selkup), Ob-Ugrians (Khanty, Mansi), Northwestern Siberia

 

DOI 10.31250/2618-8600-2025-4(30)-224-255
UDC [903.2+39] (=511.1)

 

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