Literature: J.W. Powell ,"The 6th Annual Report, Bureau of Ethnology, The Smithsonian Institute, 1884–85, p. 480., on which same page is an illustration of a crudely carved, wooden screw (Fig 402).

This rare, fine ivory screw plug, with even more rare groove carved in it. Made from the stump of a small narwhale spike, this incredibly unique and well made screw was used to screw into material like the seal hide of kayaks, or the even thicker walrus hide of Umiaks (womens' boat) to plug punctures; but it could also be screwed into the wall of summer tents made of hide (often of walrus hide) to hold a hook to hang things on! The hook was held tight into the carved slot in the screw by turning it into the hide. These screws were also used to plug the wound of a carcass of seal or other mammals, to hold the nutritious blood in for later processing, as described in The 6th Annual Report, Bureau of Ethnology, The Smithsonian Institute, 1884–85, pg 480., on which same page is an illustration of a crudely carved, wooden screw. (Fig 402). The grove could also hold a sinew lashing that, held in place by the screw, could be used to tow carcasses overland, or, inflated, the carcass could be towed through water. No object like this jewel-like ivory screw can be found on any internet site of museums, galleries of Arctic artifacts, or auction houses. There is one on display at The Danish National Museum, Copenhagen.

Born in Brooklynn, NY but raised in Norway, throughout his childhood in Norway, Willie Knutsen dreamed of becoming an arctic explorer and had the chance at age 24 in 1936, when he accompanied the French count, Gaston Micard on his over-winter expedition to Northeast Greenland. Financially backed by Count Micard, Knutsen led his own expedition the next year, also to Northeast Greenland, and set up the then northern-most arctic scientific station in the world, Micadbu, where at, using equipment supplied by MIT University, the height of the Northern Lights was first measured. Knutsen would spend the next 35 years exploring the Arctic and became one of the last great Artic explorers. He had degrees in Art and architecture from Newcastle University, England, and painted and sketched throughout his travels. He won the Fridtjof Nansen Prize, The Roald Amundsen Prize (Norway) and many USA awards. He had two articles in National Geographic and was a member of The Explorers Club. Some of his archeological finds are in The Smithsonian (USA), and The Museum of Cultural History, Oslo Norway. After WW II, he became an arctic expert to the US Airforce and retired in 1969 as Lt. Colonel.