- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Arrow with detachable poisoned head.
- Long description
- Arrow with detachable poisoned head. The arrow has a wooden shaft and bamboo blade coated in resin. Part of complete bow-trap, with a bow [.1], a stock with a trigger and line [.2], and two arrows [.3 & .4]. [MJD 08/07/2013]
- Cultural groups
- Ainu アイヌ
- Person
- Field collector J. Rousseau
- Field collector Julien Jean Marie Rousseau
- PRM source J. Rousseau
- PRM source Julien Jean Marie Rousseau
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1900
- Date collected
- By 1900
- Acquisition information
- Purchased: 1900
- Materials and processes
- Material Poison, Material Sinew, Material Bamboo Plant, Material Wood Plant, Material Resin Plant, Process Carved, Process Bound, Process Notched
- Dimensions
- Length: max 554 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1900.78.49.3
- Research and responses
A sample of the poisoned section from this object was taken by Dr Valentina Borgia from the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, on 28th January 2015. The sample was taken by rubbing a cotton wool swab moistened with deionised water over the suspected poison. The appearance of the object following sampling was unchanged. The sample will be analysed using gas-chromatography/mass spectroscopy to detect the alkaloids and main components of the poisonous substances. [HR 28/01/2015]
This object was studied by Dai Williams on 8 July 2013. He stated the bamboo head has a narrow slot for the poison. The poison is aconite. The poison would be sealed with resin. The head is probably bound to the foreshaft with sinew. Arrows used in traps are usually not fletched. [MJD 09/07/2013]
Search terms: Archery Weapon, Hunting, Cross Bow Trap, Hunting accessory