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1944.10.74

Carved cane arrow shaft with incised decoration [RTS 27/5/2005].

1944.10.74

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Collection type
Object
Description
Carved cane arrow shaft with incised decoration [RTS 27/5/2005].
Long description
Arrow shaft cut from a length of yellowish brown cane (Pantone 729C) with parts of 6 segments preserved along its length. The top of the shaft corresponds with one of the joints between body segments, and thus has a natural taper. This has been hollowed out to form a socket, into which the tanged base of the arrowhead would have been originally fitted and then bound round with hide strips, now missing, although there is a reserved band around the shaft showing where this was seated. The lower part of the shaft has been decorated with what may be an owner's mark, consisting of 3 horizontal bands around most of the circumference, with each band made up of 5 short incised lines. Below this, the base of the shaft has been nocked, with 2 rectangular notches cut into opposite sides. There would have originally been a second section of binding just above the nock, to prevent the cane splitting during use, although this is also missing. The shaft is complete in itself, but has split badly down its upper and lower body. It has a weight of 19 grams, a body length of 846 mm, nock length of 10 mm and a diameter of 8.2 by 8 mm [RTS 27/5/2005].
Geographical reference
Sudan, Republic of
Africa > Northern Africa > Sudan, Republic of
Blue Nile Darfung
Cultural groups
Burun
Person
Field collector L. Gorringe
PRM source Mrs L. Gorringe
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1912
Date collected
1902 - 1912
Acquisition information
Donated: 1944
Materials and processes
Material Cane Plant, Process Carved, Process Notched, Process Socketed, Process Decorated, Process Incised
Dimensions
Length 10 mm nock, Length: max 846 mm, Diameter: max 8.2 mm, Weight 19 g
Object numbers
Accession number: 1944.10.74
Research and responses

Dar Fung seems to be the same as Darfung, in the Roseires Dam region of the Blue Nile administrative district (see http://www.calle.com/world/sudan/Da.html). This arrow is of the same type as 1944.10.37-71, which have narrow ebony points, and hide binding around the junction of arrowhead and shaft, and immediately above the nocked butt [RTS 27/5/2005].

Search terms: Archery Weapon, Hunting, Arrow, Arrow Shaft, Weapon

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