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1916.36.190

Piece of rough coral used for smoothing stone sculptures. [FB 14/07/2014]

1916.36.190

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Collection type
Object
Description
Piece of rough coral used for smoothing stone sculptures. [FB 14/07/2014]
Geographical reference
Rapa Nui
Oceania > Polynesia > Rapa Nui
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 Stone, Material Coral
Dimensions
Width: max 50 mm, Length: max 65 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1916.36.190
Research and responses

This object was examined by Drs Sue Hamilton, Ruth Whitehouse and M. Seager Thomas as part of the Fell funded project Characterizing the World Archaeology collections. They advised that this object had been misidentified as coral and is in fact not artefactual, though it is of interest during the Island’s prehistory for being used as deposits in crematoria. [AS 29/10/2010]

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Please note that the unpublished field notes relating to this expedition are at the Royal Geographical Society.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]

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