Description

Bear tooth or claw. [CAK 31/03/2010]

Longer Description

Bear tooth or claw. Both the exposed enamel portion and the below-gum or subcutaneous portion of the tooth/claw are present. The tooth/claw is solid with no visible sign of soft tissue. [CAK 23/06/2009]

Research Notes

I think this is a sperm whale tooth, based on other whale teeth I've seen and an image search on Google. [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 6/12/2005]

I believe this is a bear tooth based upon comparative photography, the presence of bears on Haida Gwaii, and the use of bear fur and claws in Haida regalia and jewellery. More specifically, this may be from a juvenile bear. [CAK 23/06/2009]

For a comparative example of a juvenile brown bear tooth, see http://www.high-pasture-cave.org/index.php/the_work/article/specialist_report_2004_animal_bone [CAK 23/06/2009]

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 object was viewed alongside shamanic material on Friday Sept 11, 2009. Delegates believed this to be either a bear tooth or bear claw. [CAK 31/03/2010]

Primary Documentation

Accession book entry: 'From Rev. Ch. Harrison, 80 Halton Rd, Canonbury Sq. N. Collection of Haida objects collected by him.... - 111-114 Found unentered: 2 large and [blank] 2 small teeth (unperforated).' This entry is unsigned and undated. No catalogue cards have been found. [JC 4 9 1996]

Written on object - HAIDA. C. HARRISON COLLN. PURCHASED 1891. [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 6/12/2005]

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]