Highlights from the Collections

 

Contemporary Native American Art Collection

These artworks represent recent acquisitions to the NYSM Collection of Contemporary Native American Art. The collection includes over 150 artworks by established and emerging Indigenous artists.  

Cornhusk moccasins by Angela Doxtater, Six Nations Mohawk

Cornhusk moccasins by Angela Doxtater
Six Nations Mohawk
NYSM Collection

“She/Her” by Niio Perkins and Isabella Thompson, Akwesasne Mohawk

“She/Her” by Niio Perkins and Isabella Thompson
Akwesasne Mohawk
NYSM Collection

beaded graduation mortarboard by Tohanash Tarrant, Shinnecock/Hopi/Ho-Chunk

Beaded graduation mortarboard by Tohanash Tarrant
Shinnecock/Hopi/Ho-Chunk
NYSM Collection

Beaded medallion by Tohanash Tarrant, Shinnecock/Hopi/Ho-Chunk

Beaded medallion by Tohanash Tarrant
Shinnecock/Hopi/Ho-Chunk
NYSM Collection

“The Most Beautiful Woman in the Village” by Angela Doxtater, Six Nations Mohawk

“The Most Beautiful Woman in the Village” by Angela Doxtater
Six Nations Mohawk
NYSM Collection

Native American Archaeology

These images show examples of indigenous archaeological objects curated at the New York State Museum. Numbering over 2 million specimens, these collections document this long indigenous presence in the New York region beginning nearly 13,000 years ago in the Ice Age.

Carved Bone comb (A74834), Boughton Hill site, Ontario County, 17th-century A.D.

Carved Bone comb (A74834), Boughton Hill site, Ontario County, 17th-century A.D.

 

Stemmed projectile point and oyster shell

Stemmed projectile point and oyster shell (A2020.10)
George's Island site, Westchester County, circa 6600-5500 years before present. 

Ground stone gorgets, used for personal adornment, circa 3300-500 years before present.

Ground stone gorgets, used for personal adornment, circa 3300-500 years before present.
A: A2008.13B.99.7 (Bronx County)
B: A32591 (Onondaga County)
C: A28546 (Ontario County)
D: A31719 (Onondaga County)
E: A28396 (Ontario County)
F: A4255 (Chautauqua County)
 

Flaked stone projectile points (A2019,02.1), Columbia County, McVaugh Collection, circa 9000-1000 years before present.

Flaked stone projectile points (A2019,02.1), Columbia County
McVaugh Collection, circa 9000-1000 years before present.

Paleoindian flaked stone artifacts, Beardsley/Clymer Collection, OPS site, Madison County, circa 12,000 years before present.

Paleoindian flaked stone artifacts, Beardsley/Clymer Collection, OPS site, Madison County, circa 12,000 years before present.
A: Crowfield fluted point with tip damage (A2019.08B.169.1)
B: Endscraper (A2019.08B.166.1)
C: Hafted perforator (A2019.08B.197.1)
D: Flake graver (A2019.08B.171.1)
E: Side scraper (A2019.08B.163.1)

Paleoindian fluted point (A44042.4/13), West Athens Hill site, Greene County, circa 12,800 years before present.

Paleoindian fluted point (A44042.4/13), West Athens Hill site, Greene County, circa 12,800 years before present.

Artist's concept, hafting fluted point as stone tip for hunting weaponry, circa 12,800 years before present.

Artist's concept, hafting fluted point as stone tip for hunting weaponry, circa 12,800 years before present.

Return to Native American Heritage Month main page »