Greenchist fighting adze

Indianajones · 29th April 2012, 08:50 PM

Hi Timm,
nice axe indeed. Perhaps not the oldest but interesting nontheless! The stone looks to me more like nephrite which is more found along the shore (more in direction of New Zealand) as it is green with the characteristic black spots.
The rope used -am not sure if you know- is actually also quite special as the bright yellow and reddishbrown are made from orchidstems! These are therefore more laborintensive to make. These were also used to make a special bodyarmor as the fibers are quite sturdy n smooth (arrows would bounce off).
The only reason why I think it may not be so old are the diagonal lines on the wood shaft and the patine. Could be early collected?!?

Anyway congratulations! Still a nice finds (surely exchanged for a few nuts n peanuts

not?)

Tim Simmons · 29th April 2012, 08:58 PM

Hello, Not old but collected some thirty years ago by missionary. The marks on the haft are not file marks. I checked with a x10 loop and they are very small chips from an adze. There is hand grime my pictures do not show it well. Fighting was not is not rare. I am pleased somebody else can see the beauty. The veriagation is common with argillite.

Sajen · 29th April 2012, 09:13 PM

Agree that it is a very nice one, congrats!

Regards,

Detlef

Tim Simmons · 29th April 2012, 09:22 PM

More stuff on the rock base on the field research by Mr Hampton he is qualifide if that helps? A masters in geology from the University of Colorado along with five other degrees. The stuff is Epidote amphibolite to epidote chlorite which makes the rocks green.
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/General/Class/metamorphic.html

Indianajones · 30th April 2012, 05:44 PM

Hi, so does this mean this green type of rock is also being found inland of New Guinea?
Also, the more I look at that wonderfull bicolor rope, the more I like it! Also as it is not bicolored all the way.
Surely an authentic item. The marks on the handle are not a negative, its just I think anyone can see its not an 'ancient used and smoothly patinated handle'.
Perhaps you should handle the axe yourself quite some more and help the patine . . .

Tim Simmons · 30th April 2012, 07:16 PM

Here is a more moody picture of the adze and a picture of a coastal axe that has still to arrive. You can see that here is a different green with a more blue colour. Blueschist going to greenschist? An array of colour comes from different quarries. I do not want to upload lots of pages from the book. What I will do if it is okay with the forum rules is upload a series of maps from the book. They will help.

Tim Simmons · 30th April 2012, 07:25 PM

In earlier times the trade routes went from coast to coast through the highlands. Mr Hampton has concentrated his study to one area where stone still plays a the major role in the cultural and economic lives of the people in the late 20th century to today . In the study there is no mention of Nephrite. Just the stone of a similar make up that can be of the same hardness.

As mentioned before the principal weapons on the Papuan Island is the spear and the bow. That does not rule out clubs and sword clubs and I do not see why one would not hit an enemy with a stone axe or adze if one is at hand.

29th April 2012, 08:58 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Hello, Not old but collected some thirty years ago by missionary. The marks on the haft are not file marks. I checked with a x10 loop and they are very small chips from an adze. There is hand grime my pictures do not show it well. Fighting was not is not rare. I am pleased somebody else can see the beauty. The veriagation is common with argillite. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 29th April 2012 at 09:10 PM.

30th April 2012, 07:16 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Here is a more moody picture of the adze and a picture of a coastal axe that has still to arrive. You can see that here is a different green with a more blue colour. Blueschist going to greenschist? An array of colour comes from different quarries. I do not want to upload lots of pages from the book. What I will do if it is okay with the forum rules is upload a series of maps from the book. They will help. Attached Images

30th April 2012, 07:25 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Maps In earlier times the trade routes went from coast to coast through the highlands. Mr Hampton has concentrated his study to one area where stone still plays a the major role in the cultural and economic lives of the people in the late 20th century to today . In the study there is no mention of Nephrite. Just the stone of a similar make up that can be of the same hardness. As mentioned before the principal weapons on the Papuan Island is the spear and the bow. That does not rule out clubs and sword clubs and I do not see why one would not hit an enemy with a stone axe or adze if one is at hand. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 30th April 2012 at 09:21 PM.

29th April 2012, 08:50 PM	#1
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Hi Timm, nice axe indeed. Perhaps not the oldest but interesting nontheless! The stone looks to me more like nephrite which is more found along the shore (more in direction of New Zealand) as it is green with the characteristic black spots. The rope used -am not sure if you know- is actually also quite special as the bright yellow and reddishbrown are made from orchidstems! These are therefore more laborintensive to make. These were also used to make a special bodyarmor as the fibers are quite sturdy n smooth (arrows would bounce off). The only reason why I think it may not be so old are the diagonal lines on the wood shaft and the patine. Could be early collected?!? Anyway congratulations! Still a nice finds (surely exchanged for a few nuts n peanuts not?)

29th April 2012, 09:13 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,330	Agree that it is a very nice one, congrats! Regards, Detlef

29th April 2012, 09:22 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	More stuff on the rock base on the field research by Mr Hampton he is qualifide if that helps? A masters in geology from the University of Colorado along with five other degrees. The stuff is Epidote amphibolite to epidote chlorite which makes the rocks green. http://www.kgs.ku.edu/General/Class/metamorphic.html

30th April 2012, 05:44 PM	#5
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Hi, so does this mean this green type of rock is also being found inland of New Guinea? Also, the more I look at that wonderfull bicolor rope, the more I like it! Also as it is not bicolored all the way. Surely an authentic item. The marks on the handle are not a negative, its just I think anyone can see its not an 'ancient used and smoothly patinated handle'. Perhaps you should handle the axe yourself quite some more and help the patine . . .