Washing and Polishing the Paws

Among many cultures, monumental architecture that houses potent material objects requires regular ritual cleansing. Materialized totemic symbols in particular may be the focus of cyclic renewal rituals. Here at the elevated entryway to the Palmer Museum, we see the biannual washing and polishing of the paws which is an act performed in preparation for pilgrims. Here two of the keepers of the shrine are pictured washing the paws to ready the museum for graduation and the many visitors who come to participate in this ceremony of intellectual transformation. The paws are doused with libations of purifying water and polished with bowling wax in order to achieve a lustrous shine. The paws are also washed in the Fall when high school students are visiting campus. Photos by Nathan Craig.

(Un)official Video

Two of many audio visual streams recorded in the building. A Champion wrestler prepares to speak on camera after a match as a reporter is yawning on his way to the camera. Fans in the stands make home recordings of their brothers, sons, friends, idols and what have you. Canon 1Ds Mark III. Photos by Nathan Craig.

10 Tribes Ritual War

From a study of moving figures at a Big 10 Wrestling tournament. IUvsNorthwestern. IU won. Canon Mark 1Ds Mark III. Photos by Nathan Craig

Rituals in Monumental Sunken Plaza Architecture

At the start of the ritual mock battle the crowd, which includes two individuals wearing military clothing, salutes the nation. A thin electronic banner of the flag of the United States of America is displayed on the monument. T

It is snowing, the band is on the field, the majorettes are wearing next to nothing, and camera rolls while the crowd salutes the flag. It is considered a good omen if the band leader flips and does not fall. If the band leader falls it is a sign that the team will not perform well.

Photos by Margaret Brown Vega.

Performative Archaeology

Ritual reproduction requires restricted repetition. Tradition involves constrained improvisation according to agreed upon rules of conduct. By trying out cooking a turkey in a hole in the ground a group of anthropologists from PSU decided to challenge the culinary conventions of the National Ritual of Giving Thanks. The aim was not necessarily contrarian, but rather a reflexive desire to explore other options. No variables were isolated or measured at any point in these experiments. The project was done purely for fun and experience of pit oven cooking. Photos by Margaret Brown Vega.

Field shrine

This photograph shows the remains of a contemporary agricultural ritual Rio Ramis, Peru. The ritual took place at a small archaeological site, and the larger stones are artifacts from the archaeological site. The pile of ashes represents a burnt offering that was made shortly before the photograph was taken.

Vichama Raymi, Paramonga, Peru 2005