1916.36.172

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

Width: max 85 mm, Length: max 95 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1916.36.172

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 think knife like tool with naturally cleaved surfaces that was fashioned from a flaggy, intermediate non-vesicular lave from Rano Kau. [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Please note that the unpublished field notes relating to this expedition are at the Royal Geographical Society.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]

Search terms: Tool, Weapon, Knife