Inuit Adze or Tool ?

Tim Simmons · 25th August 2025, 02:07 PM

If you can tell if they are bone and not ivory they could be from Tierra del Fuego. The side lashing I believe is more of a South American method rather than Inuit. Just a suggest no expert. They are a rather cool collection of artifact and if from Tierra del Fuego I would think them rather rare too. Inuit ice axes.

drac2k · 25th August 2025, 07:14 PM

From my view,I definitely believe them to be bone.The lashing looks like it could work on my piece, the only exception is that my implement has a provision for a haft to be inserted inside it whereas the examples you provided,I believe are laid on top of the handle and lashed onto it.

Rick · 26th August 2025, 12:51 AM

I think Drac's item is Walrus Ivory. I only used Fish Bone as a euphemism for the material. If you look at the end that is narrower, where it is cut, you can see the dentine core of the tusk.

drac2k · 26th August 2025, 03:08 AM

Rick, are you talking about the smaller piece or both of them?

Rick · 27th August 2025, 03:32 PM

I'm getting a bit confused here, there is only one piece of Bone/Tusk, correct?
At the narrow end where the square hole is, if you look where the narrow end is cut off, the end grain seems to show the dentine as a different pattern as seen in the picture below.

While doing a bit of a search for like tools, I came across a picture of very similar Inuit items. All of the descriptions of these were identified as petrified tusk. I should have saved the photos, but I didn't. Maybe an image search for Inuit ice axe will provide the picture again.

https://walrusivory.org/wp-content/u...py-980x784.jpg

drac2k · 28th August 2025, 05:24 PM

With the exception of the wooden handle, there are 2 pcs. that are either bone or tusk.

25th August 2025, 02:07 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,886	If you can tell if they are bone and not ivory they could be from Tierra del Fuego. The side lashing I believe is more of a South American method rather than Inuit. Just a suggest no expert. They are a rather cool collection of artifact and if from Tierra del Fuego I would think them rather rare too. Inuit ice axes. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 25th August 2025 at 02:26 PM. Reason: Spelling

26th August 2025, 12:51 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,363	I think Drac's item is Walrus Ivory. I only used Fish Bone as a euphemism for the material. If you look at the end that is narrower, where it is cut, you can see the dentine core of the tusk. Last edited by Rick; 26th August 2025 at 01:03 AM.

27th August 2025, 03:32 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,363	I'm getting a bit confused here, there is only one piece of Bone/Tusk, correct? At the narrow end where the square hole is, if you look where the narrow end is cut off, the end grain seems to show the dentine as a different pattern as seen in the picture below. While doing a bit of a search for like tools, I came across a picture of very similar Inuit items. All of the descriptions of these were identified as petrified tusk. I should have saved the photos, but I didn't. Maybe an image search for Inuit ice axe will provide the picture again. https://walrusivory.org/wp-content/u...py-980x784.jpg Attached Images Last edited by Rick; 27th August 2025 at 04:26 PM. Reason: not enough coffee, or maybe too much

25th August 2025, 07:14 PM	#2
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,281	From my view,I definitely believe them to be bone.The lashing looks like it could work on my piece, the only exception is that my implement has a provision for a haft to be inserted inside it whereas the examples you provided,I believe are laid on top of the handle and lashed onto it.

26th August 2025, 03:08 AM	#4
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,281	Rick, are you talking about the smaller piece or both of them?

28th August 2025, 05:24 PM	#6
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,281	With the exception of the wooden handle, there are 2 pcs. that are either bone or tusk.