Where did these seals come from?

Who carved them?

What are they carved from?

These seals were carved around 1930 in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, and are believed to have been made by the indigenous Aleut people. Traditionally the Aleut peoples derived the vast majority of their food and livelihood from the sea, and even today many still live a subsistence lifestyle.

These figures are carved from ivory, most likely taken from a walrus tusk. These days, walruses are protected by law and may only be hunted by Alaska Native peoples. These figures were donated to the Karshner Center in 2016.

For more information, visit:

• This artifact in the Karshner Digital Collections
• Artifact Worksheets you can use in your classroom or for homeschool
• Aleut Culture
• Alaskan Native Walrus Ivory Carvings
• Traditional Alaska Native Art