Harvard's Monumental Stone Sphere

Nestled between the Peabody Museum and the Tozzer Anthropology building sits a large stone ball on top of a hexagonal, inscribed base. With its opportune setting, this seemingly symmetrical ball inspires wonder and curiosity in many individuals who pass by. However, every object has a history and subsequent impacts on stakeholders. The "Monumental Stone Sphere" is no exception. This StoryMap will delve deep into the historical circumstances, choices of presentation, and stakeholders of this artifact.

• Title: "Monumental Stone Sphere"
• Origin: Diquís Delta, Costa Rica
• Materials: Granitic Rock
• Size: 3' 7" in diameter,
• Base Inscription: "Monumental Stone Sphere / Pre Columbian Period / Diquis Delta, Costa Rica
• Acquisition Date: March 23rd, 1965
• Peabody Number: 65-48-20/22980

As with many artifacts today, the stone ball of the Peabody Museum has been the focal point of controversy. This ranges from curators disliking its presence to suggestions of repatriation.² The history and nature of acquisition of this specific artifact are also important to scrutinize as it is exhibited in a central location, almost acting as a face for the anthropology department. Thus, the values represented by the presentation of this object are essentially endorsed by the department to any onlooking eye.

A point of contention with the presentation of the sphere is just how little information is given with its display. This section will explore the rich history of the Monumental Stone Sphere that onlookers do not see and is not publicly displayed anywhere.

Every object within a museum's collection represents choices and the values of the museum that guide those choices. With the Monumental Stone Sphere, two major decisions can be seen in its presentation that reflect specific values. The first is the decision to accompany the object with very little information on its origins. The only information that accompanies the stone is what is on the base. This includes the title, the fact it originated from the Pre-Columbian Period in the Diquís Delta of Costa Rica, and the object's Peabody Number. To the knowledgable viewer, this does not reveal much, and even less to the average viewer as they may not know the years included in the Pre-Columbian Period nor what the Peabody Number's components represent. There is zero information on the historical context, excavation, or culture this stone came from, all important information that museums should make available about their artifacts. In fact, there is no publicly available information on this artifact from the Peabody other than its catalog information. This informs the viewer that the Peabody sees the value in this sphere not in its historicity or proof of ancient craftsmanship, but in its aesthetic. This is furthered by the second major decision: its display location. As can be seen in the original and secondary locations, the sphere has been removed from its original context entirely other than the minimal information given in the inscription. Instead of being surrounded by other objects that would give a fuller idea of the sphere's origins, it stands alone. Its physical location is also significant. The spheres place between the Peabody Museum and the Tozzer Anthropology Building, in front of the connecting glass walkway, creates the effect that this stone is the face of the anthropology department and thus any values represented by the sphere may be perceived to be as the departments'. The fact that it was chosen to be displayed again on the same base with no further information included reinforces the fact that these values may still be held by the museum in regards to this object. In addition to the decisions of information and the values they represent, the acquisition of the sphere, or rather the lack of acknowledgment of the nature of the acquisition, also creates a perception of values, specifically that the acquisition methods do not need to be included or scrutinized. Though the sphere was officially donated, the excavation took place on land owned by the United Fruit Company, which was known to have an exploitative relationship with the populations of the time.¹⁶ Even if the representation of these values is not the intention of these decisions, this placement and display can be perceived this way. Without the acknowledgment of its dubious origins, unethical archaeology and its impacts are allowed to be ignored.

Every object has those who have invested interests in them. The stakeholders of the stone sphere include the people of Osa, Harvard affiliated archaeologists, and Peabody Museum visitors.

Samuel Lothrop, the excavator of many of the Costa Rica stone spheres, was a Harvard-affiliated archaeologist.²² The Peabody Museum is also home to most Harvard-affiliated archaeologists and thus they have direct ties to the ownership of the sphere. The ownership of this sphere adds to the massive collection of the Peabody open to study to the archaeologists, improving the breadth and amount of data used to understand the past. The values implicated by owning the sphere and how it is displayed also reflect upon the values of archaeologists affiliated with Harvard as they do so willingly.

The final major group with interest in the stone sphere is the Peabody Museum visitors. As the sphere is currently displayed close to the Peabody Museum entrance, most if not all visitors will see the sphere. Thus, they are all impacted by its display and the information they are able to learn about the sphere. Specifically, visitors will only learn the information that is presented to them and thus they have an interest in the quality and digestibility of the information given. The higher quality and accessibility of the information accompanying an object, the more they will learn about and appreciate an object. There are also limited ways for visitors to know when information is false or missing, as many do not have archaeology backgrounds and thus will take information at face value, trusting the museum.

The Monumental Stone Sphere and its display invoke many questions that can be investigated through archaeological methods. These include:

1. How can the sphere be utilized to preserve Osa heritage?
2. Are there more balls in situ?
3. What significance did this sphere have?

The people of Osa and affiliated archaeologists interested in placing objects in their original context are likely to ask this question. A major threat to the preservation of the stone spheres, and thus the Osa heritage, is the fact that the spheres are easily damaged and once they are, their impact is not the same as their shape and texture are the main reason they are significant. Thus, efforts must be made to protect the sphere in the Peabody Museum's possession. It could be further preserved by creating a 3D model. This model would preserve the state of the artifact in some form, and if it was made available to the public it would allow more people to engage with and learn about Osa heritage, preserving it further.

This question would likely be asked by archaeologists, but it could also be asked by the people of Osa who care deeply about the spheres preservation. An answer to this question would provide a fuller picture of the extent of the sphere production. If there are more balls in situ, this would be incredibly valuable to archaeologists as many of the spheres were disturbed before their provenience could be recorded. Ground penetrating radar could be used in the areas where balls have been found previously. This would allow archaeologists to determine if there are any more stone balls that have been left undisturbed without excavating all of Costa Rica.

Peabody Museum visitors would likely ask this question. Though it has already been explored, there is value in returning to basic questions like this with new methods and new information. prevailing theories on the significance of the spheres state that they were expressions of power. This could be further investigated through ethnoarchaeology. The spheres are important to the present-day occupants of the Diquís Delta. This population's interactions with the spheres could be studied to learn more about their previous significance. Though the population has changed significantly, oral histories, legends, and traditions may have been preserved more than previously thought.

Overall, more information should be made available about the stone sphere. Museums should work to make their artifacts, and their origins, accessible to the public.

1. Stone ball, monumental sphere (3'7" in diameter). 2021. "Stone Ball, Monumental Sphere (3'7" In Diameter)". Collections.Peabody.Harvard.Edu. https://collections.peabody.harvard.edu/objects/326322/stone-ball-monumental-sphere-37-in-diameter?ctx=bac015bbd6c2d1085c106d4154f0020ce6c45e57&idx=0.
2. Barham, Patrick. 2021. "What Harvard Has Stolen | Opinion | The Harvard Crimson". Thecrimson.Com. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2019/9/3/barham-what-harvard-stolen/.
3. Lothrop, S. K. 1963. Archaeology of the Diquís Delta, Costa Rica / by S.K. Lothrop. Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.: Peabody Museum.
4. Heather Orr. 2009. “ROLLING HEADS.” In Blood and Beauty, 247. Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press.
5. Lothrop, S. K. 1963. Archaeology of the Diquís Delta, Costa Rica / by S.K. Lothrop. Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.: Peabody Museum.
6. Ibid.
7. Heather Orr. 2009. “ROLLING HEADS.” In Blood and Beauty, 247. Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press.
8. Museo Nacional de Costa Rica. 2021. "Esferas Del Diquís". Youtube.Com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFUv-3Gjboo.
9. Lothrop, S. K. 1963. Archaeology of the Diquís Delta, Costa Rica / by S.K. Lothrop. Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.: Peabody Museum.
10. "1964 New York World's Fair 1965 - Attractions - Central America And Panama - Page One". 2021. Nywf64.Com. http://nywf64.com/cenamer01.shtml.
11. Marie de Caballero to Fernando Madrigal A., March 23, 1965, Associated Documentation 65-48, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography.
12. Brown to William R. Bullard, February 11, 1966, Associated Documentation 65-48, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography.
13. Brew to Girard A. Jacobi, October 19, 1965, Associated Documentation 65-48, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography.
14. Brew to Doris Stone, May 19, 1965, Associated Documentation 65-48, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography.
15. "Revitalizing Tozzer". 2012.  https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2012/11/revitalizing-tozzer .
16. Wilhelm Londoño Díaz. 2020. “ARCHAEOLOGISTS, BANANAS, AND SPIES: THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY IN NORTHERN COLOMBIA.” Arqueología Iberoamericana 45: 11–21.
17. Lothrop, S. K. 1963. Archaeology of the Diquís Delta, Costa Rica / by S.K. Lothrop. Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.: Peabody Museum.
18. "Festival Of The Spheres". 2021. Diquis.Go.Cr. http://www.diquis.go.cr/en/visite-osa.html#festivalEsferas.
19. "National Archaeological Heritage". 2021. Diquis.Go.Cr.  http://www.diquis.go.cr/en/proteccion-patrimonio-mundial-arqueologico.html .
20. Ibid.
21. "Sistema Costarricense De Información Jurídica". 2021. Pgrweb.Go.Cr. http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?param2=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=37336&strTipM=TC.
22. Lothrop, S. K. 1963. Archaeology of the Diquís Delta, Costa Rica / by S.K. Lothrop. Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.: Peabody Museum.

"1964 New York World's Fair 1965 - Attractions - Central America And Panama - Page One". 2021. Nywf64.Com. http://nywf64.com/cenamer01.shtml.

"Diquis: Home". 2021. Diquis.Go.Cr. http://www.diquis.go.cr/en/.

"Festival Of The Spheres". 2021. Diquis.Go.Cr. http://www.diquis.go.cr/en/visite-osa.html#festivalEsferas.

"National Archaeological Heritage". 2021. Diquis.Go.Cr. http://www.diquis.go.cr/en/proteccion-patrimonio-mundial-arqueologico.html.

"Rivitalizing Tozzer". 2012. https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2012/11/revitalizing-tozzer.

"Sistema Costarricense De Información Jurídica". 2021. Pgrweb.Go.Cr. http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?param2=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=37336&strTipM=TC.

2021. Image. http://www.diquis.go.cr/en/proteccion-patrimonio-mundial-arqueologico.html.

2021. Image. http://www.diquis.go.cr/en/visite-osa-festivales-anteriores.

2021. Image. https://people.math.harvard.edu/~knill/teaching/math22a2018/exhibits/sphere/index.html.

Archaeologists In Front Of Stone Ball. 2021. Image.  http://www.diquis.go.cr/en/linea-de-tiempo.html#epoca_3 .

Barham, Patrick. 2021. "What Harvard Has Stolen | Opinion | The Harvard Crimson". Thecrimson.Com. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2019/9/3/barham-what-harvard-stolen/.

Bradshaw, Niels. 2021. Monumental Stone Sphere. Image. https://www.readtheplaque.com/plaque/monumental-stone-sphere.

Brew to Doris Stone, May 19, 1965, Associated Documentation 65-48, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography.

Brew to Girard A. Jacobi, October 19, 1965, Associated Documentation 65-48, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography.

Brown to William R. Bullard, February 11, 1966, Associated Documentation 65-48, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography.

Excavation Of The Stone Spheres, 1940'S. 2021. Image. http://www.diquis.go.cr/en/linea-de-tiempo.html#epoca_3.

Excavation Pit. 2021. Image. http://www.diquis.go.cr/en/linea-de-tiempo.html#epoca_3.

Lothrop, S. K. 1963. Archaeology of the Diquís Delta, Costa Rica / by S.K. Lothrop. Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.: Peabody Museum.

Marie de Caballero to Fernando Madrgial A., March 23, 1965, Associated Documentation 65-48, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography.

Museo Nacional de Costa Rica. 2021. "Esferas Del Diquís". Youtube.Com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFUv-3Gjboo.

Postcard Of The '64-'65 New York World's Fair. 2021. Image. http://nywf64.com/index.html.

Stone ball, monumental sphere (3'7" in diameter). 2021. "Stone Ball, Monumental Sphere (3'7" In Diameter)". Collections.Peabody.Harvard.Edu.  https://collections.peabody.harvard.edu/objects/326322/stone-ball-monumental-sphere-37-in-diameter?ctx=bac015bbd6c2d1085c106d4154f0020ce6c45e57&idx=0 .

Wilhelm Londoño Díaz. 2020. “ARCHAEOLOGISTS, BANANAS, AND SPIES: THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY IN NORTHERN COLOMBIA.” Arqueología Iberoamericana 45: 11–21.