1979.20.29

Collection type

Object

Description

Axe with iron blade and wooden haft

Long description

Axe consisting of an iron axehead hafted into a wooden handle. The axehead has been made from a single piece of iron, and consists of a narrow butt with a slighly splaying flattened end, on a rectangular sectioned body that gradually tapers out from this point towards the slightly curved cutting edge, which is bevelled on both sides. There is a slight depression down the length of both surfaces, but this does not extend all the way to the ends. It is currently a metallic gray around the cutting edge (Pantone 877C), and dull dark gray elsewhere. A rectangular hole has been cut into the upper part of the handle to accomodate the blade, which has been fitted through then held firm with a rough wedge of yellow, fresh-looking wood (Pantone 7509C). The handle has been cut from a tree branch, and has a splaying, knob-shaped head, that tapers in to a roughly cylindrical handle with some irregularities down its length, and a roughly cut faceted base. Shaving marks are visible down the handle length, and the surface appears to have been partially burnt or stained a dark brown colour (Pantone Black 7C). The object is complete, and has a weight in excess of 1000 grams. The handle is 593 mm long, with a head diameter of 95.3 by 49.7 mm and a butt diameter of 39.5 by 37.5 mm, while the axehead has a length of 230 mm, maximum width of 52 mm and thickness of 8.5 mm [RTS 4/7/2005].

Geographical reference

South Sudan

Africa > Eastern Africa > South Sudan

Western Equatoria Lui Lanyi

Cultural groups

Moru Misa

Person

Field collector Patti Langton

PRM source Patti Langton

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1979

Date collected

Between 27 January and 5 February 1979

Acquisition information

Purchased: 1979

Materials and processes

Material Iron Metal, Material Wood Plant, Process Forged (Metal), Process Hammered, Process Carved, Process Stained, Process Wedged

Dimensions

Length: max 590 mm, Width: max 235 mm, Depth: max 60 mm, Weight 1000 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 1979.20.29 Other numbers: Langton Collection 69

Research and responses

The place and date of collection is not noted, but judging by other objects with this information, the expedition was collecting Moru material from Lui and Lanyi between 27/1/1979 and 5/2/1979 [RTS 12/1/2004].

Search terms: Tool, Weapon, Axe