- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Sword. Made from the toothed snout of a sawfish. It is grey in colour, the teeth of the snout have been carved away at the handle. The handle is darker in colour. [AB [OPS Move] 23/5/2017]
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1919
- Date collected
- By 1919
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1919
- Materials and processes
- Material Sawfish Bone Fish, Process Carved
- Dimensions
- Length: max 379 mm, Width: max 122 mm, Depth: max 14 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1919.8.12
- Research and responses
The sawfish (of the genus Pristis, the snout of which ends in a long, flat projection with teeth on each edge) should not be confused with the swordfish (Xiphias gladius, 'having the upper jaw prolonged into a sword-like weapon). This object would seem to be made from the snout of a sawfish. [JC 23 9 2005]
According to Matthew McDaviit (graduate student, University of Virginia, Charlottesville), 1919.8.11 and 1919.8.12 'are interesting, as I have not yet found published references to sawfish blade weapons here - Micronesia is not part of their reported range, but is not impossible. I notice they are described as "said to be from" this area, so there is doubt about the collection provenance? 1919.8.11 (the thinner one) is made from a knifetooth sawfish rostrum (Anoxypristis cuspidata), which has a natual "handle" as the base is toothless. However, you will note that the handle region on this weapon is thinner that the rostral body just above it, revealing cultural modification presumably to make a more comfortable handle (the sides of the snout in this species can be quite thin and thus uncomfortable to hold sometimes).The other (fatter) weapon, 1919.8.12, is made from a Pristis-genus sawfish, but the species is hard to tell as this weapon is made from only the tip of the snout (my guess is the rostrum snapped during boating, a not unfrequent occurence). I am attempting to research material culture from this region to see if I can confirm usage of sawfishes in Kiribati.' [JC 5 10 2005]
1919.8.12
Sword. Made from the toothed snout of a sawfish. It is grey in colour, the teeth of the snout have been carved away at the handle. The handle is darker in colour. [AB [OPS Move] 23/5/2017]
1919.8.12
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