Big Melanesian spear?

katana · 14th October 2008, 01:28 PM

Hi Tim,
very nice....no 'tip' damage...and full length ..

Be careful with that thing you might poke someones eye out ......and judging by your 'black eye' ...its already happened to you

Regards David

fearn · 14th October 2008, 06:31 PM

It is a nice piece, and I agree, it doesn't look like anything from Polynesia or Micronesia. The asymmetric teeth are interesting.

Great find. Like the native mask on your model, too.

F

Tim Simmons · 14th October 2008, 08:09 PM

It seems that Palm wood was used in New Britain, New Ireland and other Islands. Strangely in a book I have on the Admiralty Islands the spears are obsidian or ray spine tipped. Does not mean they were exclusively so.

Tim Simmons · 14th October 2008, 09:28 PM

Just found this pic from "Shields of Melanesia, University of Hawai'i press"

San Christobal, Solomon Islands. Among the many varried examples present in the book this appears almost identical even seems to have the woven fibres near the carved barbs.

Tim Simmons · 15th October 2008, 08:14 PM

Looking more closely at the pictures in the afore mentioned book. This spear looks a much better match, I could be making 2+2=5. This picture is of Busimai, a distinguished Mambare River chief, with his wife. The Mambare River is on the north coast of the eastern finger of PNG. I have also post some interesting background to the picture. The other pictures just help show the varriation of spear types found. They are far from a standard form which reminds me of the Congo. I cannot post all the pictures and the focus is on the lowlands.

Tim Simmons · 16th October 2008, 08:47 AM

Last picture from the Solomons. It also looks like mine. Just thought this picture too cool not to add.

Spunjer · 16th October 2008, 11:17 AM

hopefully this'll help:

14th October 2008, 01:28 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Tim, very nice....no 'tip' damage...and full length .. Be careful with that thing you might poke someones eye out ......and judging by your 'black eye' ...its already happened to you Regards David

14th October 2008, 06:31 PM	#2
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	It is a nice piece, and I agree, it doesn't look like anything from Polynesia or Micronesia. The asymmetric teeth are interesting. Great find. Like the native mask on your model, too. F

14th October 2008, 08:09 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	It seems that Palm wood was used in New Britain, New Ireland and other Islands. Strangely in a book I have on the Admiralty Islands the spears are obsidian or ray spine tipped. Does not mean they were exclusively so.

14th October 2008, 09:28 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Just found this pic from "Shields of Melanesia, University of Hawai'i press" San Christobal, Solomon Islands. Among the many varried examples present in the book this appears almost identical even seems to have the woven fibres near the carved barbs.

15th October 2008, 08:14 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Looking more closely at the pictures in the afore mentioned book. This spear looks a much better match, I could be making 2+2=5. This picture is of Busimai, a distinguished Mambare River chief, with his wife. The Mambare River is on the north coast of the eastern finger of PNG. I have also post some interesting background to the picture. The other pictures just help show the varriation of spear types found. They are far from a standard form which reminds me of the Congo. I cannot post all the pictures and the focus is on the lowlands.

16th October 2008, 08:47 AM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Last picture from the Solomons. It also looks like mine. Just thought this picture too cool not to add.

16th October 2008, 11:17 AM	#7
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	hopefully this'll help: