Dig It - 10/2/25

Well Fellow Seekers, Today we are going to look at a Zuni Ketoh, which is an archer’s wrist guard made to protect them from the snap of the bowstring. The image is that of a Thunder Being done in stone-to-stone (and shell) mosaics. This type of mosaic decorative technique goes way back in Pueblo prehistory, but in this case it was revived at Zuni beginning in the 1930s, reaching its height in the 1940s and 1950s.

The thunder being wears a stepped hat representing thunderhead clouds. He has wings, tail feathers, and feet. This image is found on the “Bow Priest” society shields. The Bow Priests are a warrior society which functions to protect the Zuni from enemies and outsiders as well as keep the peace in the pueblo. Since Ketohs are almost exclusively made for and worn by Native Americans, I believe this one was made for a member of the Bow Priests.

Now in 1879 an anthropologist by the name of Frank Hamilton Cushing moved to Zuni to study them for five years. The Zuni were very clever and made Cushing a member of the Bow Society. You see, the Zuni were being encroached upon by White settlers. To stop this, they sent a delegation headed by Cushing, who was to act as interpreter and guide to Washington, D.C. The plan worked, and the encroachment was stopped. Well Seekers, that about does it for me. See you on down the trail. Lonesome