Authentic Tuareg Wooden Pulley – 5″ × 3½″ Small Well Pulley

Authentic Tuareg Wooden Pulley – Small Well Load Pulley ( 5″ × 3½″)

Discover an Authentic old carved wooden pulley used traditionally in Niger by the Tuareg people, mounted atop wells to pull water from the ground. This small-size pulley remains in good condition despite age-related wear, dents, and natural cracks that attest to its history and use.

• Approximate Size: 5″ (12.8 cm) × 3½″ (8.8 cm)

This carved wooden pulley is more than just a utilitarian tool, it’s a piece of living history, reflecting centuries of ingenuity and desert life.

About the Tuareg and Their Wooden Pulley

The Tuareg are a confederation of pastoral‑nomadic tribes speaking a Berber language, with a rich history across Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Senegal and beyond. Renowned for their camel caravans, they dominated trans‑Saharan trade until the mid‑20th century. Moving south over the past 2,000 years, many settled in Saharan‑border cities famed for trade.

Although now largely sedentary and practicing Islam, the Tuareg maintain distinctive non‑Arab heritage, with unique customs and crafts. Their artistry is expressed through leatherwork, silver & amber jewelry, ornate metal saddle decorations, finely crafted swords, and functional items like this pulley.

The wooden pulley, carved by hand, was integral to well systems, mounted over the shaft to wind rope and lift water. Each pulley is unique, often featuring Tuareg symbolic marks and motifs that blend practicality with cultural expression. Also known as Tuareg tent posts, support columns, or poles, they share craftsmanship traditions with decorative tribal elements.

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