- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Hook with L shaped haft and walrus tusk barb/pick lashed to it at three points with seal skin.
- Long description
- Hook with L shaped haft and walrus tusk barb/pick lashed to it at three points with seal skin. The walrus tusk points down the haft towards the L shaped butt. [SM 25/07/2007]
- Geographical reference
- Alaska Bering Strait Kotzebue Sound
- Person
- Field collector Frederick William Beechey
- Field collector HMS Blossom
- PRM source Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
- Date / Period
- Date made: On or before 1826
- Date collected
- 1826
- Acquisition information
- Transferred: 11/03/1886
- Materials and processes
- Material Walrus Ivory Tooth Animal, Material Spruce Root Plant, Material Seal Skin Animal, Process Carved, Process Bound, Process Perforated
- Dimensions
- Length: max 675 mm, Width: max 180 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1886.1.661 Other numbers: 343 661
- Research and responses
Please note that there was no further information about Beechey on the Donor Index cards at the Ashmolean Museum, Department of Antiquities. [L.Ph 23/3/2004]
Observations provided by research visitors from Wales and Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. 23.1.2008. This object is a close range hook used for butchering walrus and other similar animals. It was used to eviscerate a walrus by pulling the tool towards you along the walrus. The haft and barb/pick are lashed together with seal skin. This object is too big to be used for landing fish. This object was necessary to butcher animals, as knives were too small. The haft is more shiny than it should be, perhaps indicating that it was polished either in the Museum, or while with Mr Beechey. This information was provided by research visitors from Wales and Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. 23.1.2008 [SM 24/01/2008]
Search terms: Tool, Hunting, Fishing, Hunting accessory, Hook, Fishing Accessory