Sauratown Woman Statue, Raleigh
The statue depicts a Saura Indian woman. She is shown dressed in a decorated deerskin dress and hood as well as similarly adorned moccasins. She is depicted standing with both arms raised and looking upwards. A small plaque and pedestal stand to the left of the statue and contains information regarding the Sauratown Woman as well as the statue itself.
Images: Bronze plaque
SAURATOWN WOMAN / (LATE 1600S) / SCULPTOR'S REPRESENTATION OF A SAURA INDIAN WOMAN WHO LIVED / ALONG THE DAN RIVER IN PRESENT-DAY STOKES COUNTY. THE ADORNED / DEERSKIN DRESS AND HOOD SUGGEST A HIGH STATUS IN THE TRIBE. / IN MEMORY OF DELLIE HARDISON SMITH, PART PRESIDENT OF / THE NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF HISTORY ASSOCIATES, INC.
The text also appears below the main inscription in braille.
North Carolina Museum of History
2000
35.781190 , -78.638980
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No related materials.
Yes
Bronze
The Sauratown Woman statue is based off of forensic reconstructions of archaeological remains found at the village of Upper Sauratown (in present-day Stokes County, North Carolina). Based off of the reconstruction, she is believed to have been between 18 and 21 years old and approximately 5 feet 2 and one-half inches in height.
Her clothing is also based off of reconstructions which indicated that she wore a hood, dress and possibly moccasins made of deer skin. Similarly, information points to her adornment with glass trade beads, wampum, as well as brass hawk bells, triangles, cones and beads. Additional burial jewelry included two columellashell bead necklaces and a columellashell bracelet.
The statue is located on the steps leading up to the North Carolina Museum of History (located off of Edenton Road). Two other statues - to Frederick Augustus Olds and to Thomas Day - greet Museum visitors.
The statue stands between the entrance to the Museum of History and the planters which line the museum's front. It is surrounded by concrete steps.
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