The first known images of this infamous figure date back to between 750-850 AD. Though most commonly known as a spirit of music, Kokopelli (also spelled Kookopölö, Kokopele, Kokopeli, and many other ways) is also known as a trickster as well as a spirit of conception and childbirth. In some stories, Kokopelli would travel from village to village to play his beautiful music. When he left, crops would be plentiful and all of the women of child bearing age in the village would be pregnant!
In Hopi dances, Kokopelli is depicted as having a long proboscis like nose, similar to that of a Robber Fly. He is also commonly depicted as having a hunched back, though the myths vary as to the reason for his hump. Some say it is filled with seeds, others with babies to hand out to lucky women, and others say it is where he keeps his music. This carving is part of the large fetish exhibit in the rear room of the museum and is just one example of Kokopelli that we have on display.