Figure c. 100 - 500

This is an Okvik figure, carved from walrus ivory by an unknown artist, whose culture flourished in the Bering Strait region as early as 200 BC. The Okvik people, who predated the Inuit, are renowned for their sophisticated artistic expression. These figures offer insights into the daily lives, beliefs, and social structures of the Okvik. The carved figure may represent a specific individual, an ancestor, or a deity within the Okvik belief system. Notice the detailed incisions of what appear to be chevrons down its torso. These stylistic choices tell us about the cultural and spiritual values of the Okvik. The creation of these figures would have been an intimate and carefully considered process, with the artist embedding their personal experiences and cultural understanding into the object. Through their art, the Okvik shaped their world and the way they understood their place in the cosmos.