1884.19.307

Collection type

Object

Description

Fishing spear with 2 iron prongs barbed inwards. The shaft is made of made of light imported bamboo. [ASh [OPS move] 28/6/2018]

Geographical reference

Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Union Territory of India)

Asia > Southern Asia > Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Union Territory of India)

Nicobar Islands

Person

Maker Unknown Maker

Field collector Edward Horace Man

PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection

Date / Period

Date made: Possibly before 1878

Date collected

?Prior to 1878

Acquisition information

Donated: 1884

Materials and processes

Material Wood Plant, Material Iron Metal, Material Bamboo Plant, Material Plant Fibre, Process Carved, Process Forged (Metal), Process Bound

Dimensions

Length: max 1835 mm, Width: max 32 mm, Depth: max 20 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1884.19.307 PR no.: 158/ 11935

Associated publications

JAI 1878: 466 'Mîân Momaingya fish spear having two prongs' [Taken from the 'List of Andamanese and Nicobarese implements ornaments etc presented to Major General Lane Fox by EH Man esq and thus described by Mr Man 18th September 1877'] JAI 1882: 275 'The Miân mòm ânya (lit two pronged spear) is used for picking up bêche de mer when collecting it for sale to Malay traders' [EH Man]. Indian Antiquary, Feb. 1895, 'Catalogue of Nicobarese objects', p. 44 '17 (m) Miàn-momânya (lit. two-pronged spear) (Car Nicobar Pâk-mâ) Used for picking up bèche-de-mer, along the coast for sale to Malay traders and for spearing fish. The shafts of this and of the other miàn spears are made of light imported bamboos, the local variety of bamboo not being so well adapted for the purpose. Miàn denotes any spear having two or more barbed prongs.' [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998]

Search terms: Weapon, Fishing, Spear, Fishing Accessory