Catalog Number
|
Catalog Number |
CAS 0458-0482 | |
| Category | Weaponry | |
| Object Name | Shark tooth weapon | |
| Culture | Polynesian: Hawaiian | |
| Global Region | Oceania | |
| Country | USA | |
| State/Prov./Dist. | Hawaii | |
| County | ||
| Other Geographic Data | unknown | |
| Maker's Name | Unknown | |
| Date of Manufacture | 1800s | |
| Collection Name | Ostheimer Collection (Hawaiian) | |
| Materials | Wood; Oceanic white tip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) teeth; Plant fiber cordage | |
| Description | Hand-held weapon comprised of a flat oval wooden spatulate shaft with short elongated cylindrical handle; Shallow groove is carved along edge of wooden shaft, into which are positioned nineteen shark teeth, at least some of which stare still joined together with muscle tissue; Each tooth is drilled through its center and lashed to the wooden shaft with native cordage that is threaded through the hole in each tooth and through a series of small holes drilled along the edge of the wooden shaft; Vestige of native cordage loops through proximal end of handle, presumably from a wrist loop; According to Meyer (1995), this type of weapon was used exclusively by chiefs and noble warriors in hand-to-hand combat. | |
| Dimensions (cm) | Width = 8.6, Length = 23.0 | |