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1884.19.273

Palm wood spear with metal head with single barbed blade and a tang, hafted to the shaft. A length of plant fibre cord is attached to the tang, coiled, and bound to shaft. [DV [OPS move] 6/8/2018]

1884.19.273

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Collection type
Object
Description
Palm wood spear with metal head with single barbed blade and a tang, hafted to the shaft. A length of plant fibre cord is attached to the tang, coiled, and bound to shaft. [DV [OPS move] 6/8/2018]
Long description
Spear with palm wood shaft and metal head bound on with plant fibre. The head has a blade with one barb and a tang, hafted to the shaft. A length of plant fibre cord is attached to the tang, coiled, and bound to shaft. [DV [OPS move] 6/8/2018]
Date / Period
Date made: Possibly before 1878
Date collected
?Prior to 1878
Acquisition information
Donated: 1884
Materials and processes
Material Iron Metal, Material Palm Wood Plant, Material Plant Fibre Yarn, Material Plant Fibre, Process Bound, Process Carved, Process Forged (Metal), Process Tied, Process Braided
Dimensions
Length: max 3008 mm, Width: max 47 mm, Depth: max 31 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1884.19.273 PR no.: 186/ 11935
Research and responses

There is no mention of a harpoon spear called shanen-parata from the Nicobar Islands in the JAI paper. Nor is there a harpoon in the list of harpoons and spears in PR III 14 that has this name. It seems that this is probably a mistranscription of harata. Indian Antiquary, Feb. 1895, 'Catalogue of Nicobarese objects', p. 44 '3. Spears and harpoons ... 14 (m) Shanen Harâta Pig spear with detachable head. The blade resembles that of the shanen mongheang (vide no 11) and the arrangment for attaching it to the shaft is identical with that of the hinwenh (vide no 22). The cord attachments and lashings of this, as well as of all of the iron-headed spears and harpoons, are made with the bark fibre of the Gnetum gnemon (Nic Het-toit) (vide no 145) of which great use is made .' The match to Accession Book VII where the entry number is given in black ink would suggest that this item was obtained in 1886 but the match to the delivery catalogue would suggest that the item was obtained prior to 1884 [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998]

Search terms: Weapon, Cordage, Hunting, Fishing, Spear, Harpoon, Fishing Accessory, Hunting accessory

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