Spear

MOA: University of British Columbia

2948/153

Long spear with carved bone head. The edges of the head have four barbs each, staggered, along the sides. Head is bound to a narrow wooden shaft with string and wax. The convex side has remnants of a light green dye over the middle half of the head. The wooden shaft is carved into diagonal patterns filled with lime. It is inserted into a slightly larger bamboo shaft and bound with rattan and wax. The shaft has been thinly shaved towards the join and a few thin lines have been scratched around the shaft just below this. The nodules have been shaved smooth.


  • Type of Item spear
  • Culture Asmat
  • Material bamboo grass, wood, bone, plant fibre, rattan, bee wax, ochre pigment, lime pigment
  • Measurements height 120.0 cm, width 1.5 cm, depth 1.1 cm (overall)

  • Previous Owner Lorne Balshine
  • Received from Lorne Balshine

  • Made in Papua

  • Collection Date during 1980
  • Ownership Date before April 11, 2012
  • Acquisition Date on April 11, 2012

  • Condition fair
  • Accession Number 2948/0153