Stone blade hafted in a woven string holder.

Collection type: Object
Description: Stone blade hafted in a woven string holder.
Long description: Dark grey to black polished stone blade hafted in a woven string holder with a loop at end. The cylindrical holder is made from a layer of plant fibre underneath a woven layer of string that extends to form a loop at the top. The layer of woven string has a diagonal lattice pattern. The stone blade shows surface wear and several chips. This object was obtained by Roy Ellen in Biak, where he was told it had been traded from the Asmat area on the Papua mainland. It may have been used to cut off fingers as part of mourning customs.
Geographical reference: Indonesia
Asia > South-eastern Asia > Indonesia
Cultural groups: Biak
Person: PRM source Roy Ellen; Field collector Roy Ellen
Date / Period: Date made: Before 13/03/1990
Date collected: 13/03/1990
Acquisition information: Donated: 14 August 2024
Materials and processes: Material String, Material Stone, Material Plant Fibre Textile, Process Woven, Process Plaited, Process Glued, Process Carved, Process Polished
Dimensions: Length 247 mm, Width 40 mm, Length 285 Including woven loop
Object numbers: Accession number: 2024.20.25 Other numbers: 1990.02

Search terms: Tool, Weapon, Knife

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