Earplug c. 15th century

This earplug was crafted by an unknown artist, out of stone. What does it mean to choose when to listen and when not to? The creation and use of an earplug speaks volumes about a culture's relationship to sound, noise, and communication. We can only speculate about the culture that produced this object, but, the materiality of the earplug itself is revealing. It is small and made of stone, suggesting a society with both the need to control auditory input and the resources to craft such a tool. The use of stone further implies a connection to the natural world, where silence might have been sought for contemplation, hunting, or protection from danger. As an art historian, I'd want to delve into archaeological records and anthropological studies of similar objects. By understanding the social and institutional contexts, we can better appreciate this artifact's role in shaping the sensory experiences and cultural values of its time.