Spearthrower, carved from a rectangular piece of spruce wood of triangular section. On the flat side of the implement are a groove and ivory peg to engage the spear butt; a hole for the index finger is carved from the other side. [LM 16/10/2007]

Collection type: Object
Description: Spearthrower, carved from a rectangular piece of spruce wood of triangular section. On the flat side of the implement are a groove and ivory peg to engage the spear butt; a hole for the index finger is carved from the other side. [LM 16/10/2007]
Geographical reference: United States of America
Northern America > North America > United States of America; Western USA Alaska Icy Cape Point Barrow
Cultural groups: Inuit (Greenland); Inuit
Person: Maker Unknown Maker; Field collector Edward Belcher; Field collector HMS Assistance; PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1820-1829?, uncertain
Date collected: ?1826 1827 or 1850s
Acquisition information: Donated: 1884
Materials and processes: Material Spruce Wood Plant, Material Animal Ivory Tooth, Process Carved, Process Perforated, Process Grooved
Dimensions: Length: max 480 mm, Weight 161 g
Object numbers: Accession number: 1884.19.353 PR Cat other PR nos: 214 PR Cat other PR nos: 151 PR no.: 214
Research and responses: In Primitive Warfare II (read Friday June 5th 1868) Pitt-Rivers describes 2 hafted projectile points collected 'from the Esquimaux, between Icy Cape and Point Barrow' which he purchased from someone who had 'bought them himself from that locality'. He illustrated these 2 objects on Plate XVIII (numbers 163 and 164), to show 'the mode of fixing [arrow-heads and spear-heads] in their shafts' (p. 419). It is possible that this object is part of the material obtained from Alaska in this purchase. [Dan Hicks 20/09/2012]
Observations provided by research visitors from Wales and Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. 23.1.2008. This object was identified as a 'throwing board', used for throwing arrows when there was insufficient space for a bow and arrow, such as on a kayak. It is made from wood, probably spruce and ivory. The arrow would be placed in the groove with the butt against the ivory peg. Throwing boards were used in hunting, particularly birds and fish. Throwing boards were not used as much in Wales as in other areas of Alaska. They were replaced by rifles, except where a lack of noise was important. This information was provided by research visitors from Wales and Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. 23.1.2008 [SM 24/01/2008]
Associated publications: Bockstoce, 1977 no 41 - 'Spear throwers - Belcher collection. Length 45.2 cm, weight 161 gm. According to the PRM Catalogue, probably collected between Icy Cape and Point Barrow. Like the two other spear throwers this one is made for a right handed thrower. It has a spruce body with an ivory tang mortised to the frame. It also has an ivory peg for a finger rest. [It] bears a label indicating that it was purchased in the eastern Arctic by Belcher when he was in command of HMS Assistance. This voyage to Arctic Canada took place in the 1850s as part of the search for the missing expedition of Sir John Franklin. The object does not look like eastern Arctic types but closely resembles spear-throwers made in Western Alaska. Without doubt it is incorrectly labelled. The mistake in labelling as on other pieces, may have occurred many years after Belcher's return from the Arctic when his artefacts were transferred to the Pitt Rivers collections ...' [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998] Lane Fox. A.H. 1868. Primitive Warfare II. Journal of the Royal United Services Institution 12 (1868): 399-439. [Dan Hicks 20/09/2012]

Search terms: Weapon, Hunting, Spear-thrower