1916.36.341

Collection type

Object

Description

Obsidian tanged spear-head (mata'a) from Easter Island.

Geographical reference

Rapa Nui

Oceania > Polynesia > Rapa Nui

Person

Field collector William Scoresby Routledge

Field collector Katherine Maria Routledge

PRM source William Scoresby Routledge

Date / Period

Date made: Before 18/08/1915

Date collected

Between 29 March 1914 and 18 August 1915

Acquisition information

Donated: 1916

Materials and processes

Material Obsidian Stone

Dimensions

Width: max 69 mm, Length: max 63 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1916.36.341

Research and responses

Please note that this number has been assigned to this object after lying out and cataloguing the entire collection of stone tools that the Routledge's collected from Easter Island. Many of these objects had no information that we could use to determine which accession number was assigned when these objects were accessioned as the details in the accession book are rather vague. Therefore we have matched items to records as best we could, but if other objects are located at some time in the future these records may have to been amended. [ZM & L.Ph 29/4/2004]

Please note that the Routledge's published account of their journey includes many specific object references, drawings, maps and photographs. Please refer to: Routledge, Mrs. [Katherine] Scoresby Routledge (1919) The Mystery of Easter Island: The Story of an Expedition. London: Sifton, Praed & Co. Ltd. [L.Ph 29/4/2004]

Please note that the unpublished field notes relating to this expedition are at the Royal Geographical Society. This information was found on p. 334 of the biography of Katherine Routledge (Pease): van Tilburg, Jo Anne (2003) Among Stone Giants: The Life of Katherine Routledge and her Remarkable Expedition to Easter Island. London: Scribner. [L.Ph 29/4/2004]

Search terms: Weapon, Spear-head