Description

Blunt end of stone adze or axe. [CAK 11/05/2010]

Longer Description

Blunt end of stone adze or axe. One end is rounded, while the other is a clean break. There are two distinct ridges and grooves on one side of the tool where it would have been held in the hand or lashed to a handle. [CAK 11/05/2010]

Research Notes

The following information comes from Haida delegates who worked with the museum's collection in September 2009 as part of the project “Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge”:
This tool was viewed alongside other stone tools on Monday Sept 14, 2009. Delegates commented that the tool fit well in the hand and that the finger grips were good, though they suspected that the grip was too large for a woman's hand, and therefore the tool was for a male. Christian White identified the tool as part of the handle of a splitting axe. He thought it could have either been held in the hand, or lashed to a branch. He provided the Haida translation (Northern dialect) for stone axe: higa tl 'uu.
In response to the collection of stone tools, delegates commented that the manufacture of stone tools occurred on Haida Gwaii and that it is possible to identify places where tools were made today based on archaeological analysis of detritus at the sites. They noted that there are a variety of stone types on Haida Gwaii and most of the tools found on Haida Gwaii were produced locally. There are sources of obsidian, for instance, although basalt is more common. [CAK 11/05/2010]

Primary Documentation

Accession book entry (for 1891.49.89 -.91): 'From Rev. Ch. Harrison, 80 Halton Rd, Canonbury Sq. N. Collection of Haida objects collected by him.... [- 2 stone adzes &] fragment of third. £45. [Purchase price includes 1891.49.1-110]

No additional information on catalogue cards. [JC 4 9 1996]

Written on object - Part of a large adze-blade, with hafting notches BRITISH COLUMBIA C. Harrison coll. Purch. 1891; HARRISON COLLN 1891 [CAK 29/05/2009]

Related Documents File - The Haida Project Related Documents File contains video of research sessions and interviews with Haida delegates from September 2009 as part of the project ‘Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge'. It also includes post-visit communications that discuss object provenance. For extensive photographic, video, and textual records documenting the Haida research visit as a whole, including but not limited to preparations of objects for handling, travel logistics, British Museum participation, transcribed notes from research sessions and associated public events held at PRM, see the Haida Project Digital Archive, stored with the Accessions Registers. Original hand-written notes taken during research sessions have been accessioned into the Manuscripts collection, in addition to select other materials. [CAK 02/06/2010]