1916.36.171

Collection type

Object

Description

Knife-like stone tool from Easter Island. [FB 14/07/2014]

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 Stone, Process Ground

Dimensions

Length: max 110 mm, Width: max 45 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1916.36.171

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 described it as a very thin knife-like polished tool made of an unidentified non-vesicular lava. [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Please note that the unpublished field notes relating to this expedition are at the Royal Geographical Society.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]

Associated publications

Illustrated (with 1916.36.147, 1916.36.148, 1916.36.150, 1916.36.152, 1916.36.153, 1916.36.156, 1916.36.159, 1916.35.150, and 1916.36.166) in black and white as image 13 on page 14 of Remote Possibilities: Hoa Hakananai'a and HMS Topaze on Rapa Nui (The British Museum Research Publication, Number 158), by Jo Anne Van Tilburg (London: The British Museum, 2006). [JC 21 6 2007]

Search terms: Tool, Weapon, Knife