This ancient artifact was used as a dog sled runner. It is made of fossilized walrus ivory and features a grizzly bear. The scrimshaw was done by Alaskan artist Dennis Sims of Houston, Alaska. The piece is about 1.5″ tall and almost 5.5″ wide.

Scrimshaw was originally carved or engraved articles made by American whalers usually from baleen or whale teeth and bone. Native Alaskans have been using bone and ivory from walrus, mammoth and other animals for thousands of years as tools, utensils, weapons, and even armor. Today Alaskan artists use these same raw materials in their carvings and other scrimshaw artwork.