Massai ceremonial initiation spear for comment

katana · 3rd March 2006, 06:47 PM

I have searched on the internet and discovered this picture and discription in a Anthropology Collections website.

AFRICAN ETHNOGRAPHIC COLLECTION Culture: MASAI(MASSAI), WAHUMBA? Locale: WAHUMBA? Country: KENYA Material: WOOD,METAL(IRON),LEATHER Dimensions: L:170.2 W:5.7 [in CM] Donor: SCHIFF Acquisition Year: 1898

Spear (1/5533)

Notice the spearhead shape, the central rib, and the date of acquisition 1898, Perhaps around this time this design spearhead / spear were more common?

Tim Simmons · 3rd March 2006, 08:00 PM

Freddy what a nice spear rather like the Tuareg all metal spear.

Saying a people used just one or two types of spear is a trifle bombastic. This is often said about the Zulu. Spears vary in function and a spear blade unless very distinctive, is a rather mature design making attribution just on an ordinary shape without provenance or documented evidence a little tricky. A book reviewing pan African spear types would be a great publication also a Herculean task and most probably rather expensive.

Picture Hutchinson & co London 1918. Okay the caption says Kikuyu but culturally not dissimilar to the Massai who I believe used the same initiation shields symbolising emergence. Just thought the picture was relevent to the thread. Tim

3rd March 2006, 06:47 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	I have searched on the internet and discovered this picture and discription in a Anthropology Collections website. AFRICAN ETHNOGRAPHIC COLLECTION Culture: MASAI(MASSAI), WAHUMBA? Locale: WAHUMBA? Country: KENYA Material: WOOD,METAL(IRON),LEATHER Dimensions: L:170.2 W:5.7 [in CM] Donor: SCHIFF Acquisition Year: 1898 Spear (1/5533) Notice the spearhead shape, the central rib, and the date of acquisition 1898, Perhaps around this time this design spearhead / spear were more common? Attached Images

3rd March 2006, 08:00 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,935	Freddy what a nice spear rather like the Tuareg all metal spear. Saying a people used just one or two types of spear is a trifle bombastic. This is often said about the Zulu. Spears vary in function and a spear blade unless very distinctive, is a rather mature design making attribution just on an ordinary shape without provenance or documented evidence a little tricky. A book reviewing pan African spear types would be a great publication also a Herculean task and most probably rather expensive. Picture Hutchinson & co London 1918. Okay the caption says Kikuyu but culturally not dissimilar to the Massai who I believe used the same initiation shields symbolising emergence. Just thought the picture was relevent to the thread. Tim Last edited by Tim Simmons; 3rd March 2006 at 08:39 PM.