Hopi Pueblo Navajo Scavenger Kachina Doll By TB

Late 20th Century

4.75" H x 2.5" D

Hand Carved from Cottonwood Root and Adorned with Yarn, Felt, Fur Fabric and a Feather

In Very Good Condition

The Scavenger Kachina (also known as Uhuhu or Ooh-hu-hu Katsina in Hopi) is a rare and distinctive figure in Hopi Pueblo tradition. These dolls represent spirit beings (katsinam) that appear in Hopi ceremonies, and carvings of them are handmade from cottonwood root by Hopi artisans.

The Scavenger Katsina historically symbolizes a looter or scavenger associated with the ruins of Awatovi (an ancient Hopi village on Antelope Mesa destroyed by rival factions in the 1700s). In some accounts, it depicts someone who scavenged or looted the site. In modern ceremonies, the Scavenger often acts as a guard, disciplinarian, or enforcer during Katsina dances—carrying items like a staff and knife to maintain order and control.