Description

Juvenile bear tooth or claw. [CAK 23/06/2009]

Longer Description

Juvenile bear tooth or claw. Both the exposed portion and the below-gum or below-skin portion of the tooth/claw are present. The tooth/claw is solid with no visible opening for 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 on comparative photographs, the presence of bears on Haida Gwaii, and the use of bear claws and fur within Haida regalia and jewellery. More specifically it may be a juvenile bear tooth. [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 objects on Friday Sept 11, 2009. Delegates thought this was a juvenile bear tooth or 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]