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During whale hunts, this carved whale box stored harpoon blades like the three shown beside it.

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Inupiat Harpoon Box

January 2010

Close-up of a 17th century painting shows how whales were brought ashore for processing and their blubber rendered into marketable oil.

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Basque Whalers

January 2010

Yankee Whalers: An 1856 Currier & Ives print shows whalers harpooning a right whale.

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The “Right” Whale to Hunt

January 2010

This ivory sculpture from Point Barrow, Alaska, represents Kikámigo, a guardian spirit, holding a whale in each hand.

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Inupiat Guardian Spirit

January 2010