Kangaroo Tooth Lacerator

Ron Anderson · 30th August 2010, 02:10 PM

I'd like to share something unusual from my collection – a Kangaroo Tooth Lacerator.

This is something many Europeans may never get to see. Actually, most Australians don't know much about this particular item either. The basic implement is called a Taap knife. Generally these have a stone blade and are just a simple cutting tool, but this example has a bit more bite. The teeth in these are (I believe, anyway) kangaroo, though on the Queensland coast they have been known to use shark's teeth.

The 'cement' in which these teeth are placed is actually kangaroo dung. This is hard as anything and these teeth are very firmly in place.

These weapons haven't been used at all in about a 100 years. Most Australians have never heard of them. The two examples in the Australian Museum in Sydney were collected in 1905. I think this example is at least that old or older. The handle is stone cut and it is really smooth through all the handling.

This item item was exclusively a weapon for fighting, which is unusual it seems among indigenous Australians. Most weapons were primarily tools or hunting weapons.

The idea of this nasty piece of work is to slash it at the face of your opponent. Not a deadly weapon, but certainly able to help you make a point.

Tim Simmons · 30th August 2010, 04:45 PM

Ron you said you would post some stones?

You lucky chap, compere with these pictures. It is interesting that the items in the colour pictures are from "expeditions" as late as 1901-2. Colour pictures Pitt Rivers Oxford. The black and white "Australian Aboriginal Stone Implements, F.D. McCarthy, Australian Museum" The lacerator is post the same size as in the publication.

Tim Simmons · 30th August 2010, 07:25 PM

Got to show this. I have a Dugong tusk. Only about 4" would be exposed. Took a while to identify it. Could still be hippo?

Ron Anderson · 31st August 2010, 02:26 AM

Hi Tim

Thanks for your post.

Apologies for not posting photos of the stones. I've only just got this camera. I'll post some pics of my Australian stones on that thread to keep the conversation consistent.

Thanks for showing those references. I do have the book the black and white pictures are from.

My knife I think must be an older example, considering the fluted grip and the general ornament, as well as the wear to the grip. It seems to be from central Australia and has ochre on the front of the item where the teeth are. I think it's better than the two I've seen in the Australian Museum.

Aboriginal knives of any kind are kind of rare, but this is very unusual.

Here's another good piece I have. I don't know much about it. It's got a very pronounced curve and is considerably longer than most aboriginal stone knives. I think it might have been used primarily for circumcisions.

Ouch.

PS. That tooth reminds me a bit of walrus ivory, so you're probably right about it being dugong.

David · 31st August 2010, 02:52 AM

Those teeth look rather flat and pointed. I'm not sure they fit the profile for kangaroo teeth. I would more likely think shark.
Here are the skulls of 2 different types of kangaroo.

Ron Anderson · 31st August 2010, 03:13 AM

Hi David

You could be right. I did initially think these were Shark's Teeth. I changed my mind after looking at shark's teeth, but this could be a different type I haven't spotted.

I have noticed that the teeth on the kangaroo implements I saw in the museum were pretty sharp. It is possible it was constructed of just the incisors from these animals. That would mean killing more kangaroos, of course, but there are plenty of those in Australia, so no problem there.

If they are shark's teeth, this would change the location of this artefact from central Australia to Queensland. This is a bit surprising because of the ochre on the item which I associate with central Australia more.

Regardless, the weapon still seems to have disappeared a century or so ago.

I suspect, as much as anything, it simply became obsolete as European implements became more readily accessible. A lot of work must have gone into making this - I suspect, the process of preparing the cement (for want of a better word) was pretty laborious.

It looks primitive, this knife. But it's pretty well made. Nonetheless, it has a limited function. It can't really be used for anything other than fighting. It seems to have been an implement carried almost exclusively by young men – a kind of indigenous Australian switchblade, if you like.

30th August 2010, 02:10 PM	#1
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Kangaroo Tooth Lacerator I'd like to share something unusual from my collection – a Kangaroo Tooth Lacerator. This is something many Europeans may never get to see. Actually, most Australians don't know much about this particular item either. The basic implement is called a Taap knife. Generally these have a stone blade and are just a simple cutting tool, but this example has a bit more bite. The teeth in these are (I believe, anyway) kangaroo, though on the Queensland coast they have been known to use shark's teeth. The 'cement' in which these teeth are placed is actually kangaroo dung. This is hard as anything and these teeth are very firmly in place. These weapons haven't been used at all in about a 100 years. Most Australians have never heard of them. The two examples in the Australian Museum in Sydney were collected in 1905. I think this example is at least that old or older. The handle is stone cut and it is really smooth through all the handling. This item item was exclusively a weapon for fighting, which is unusual it seems among indigenous Australians. Most weapons were primarily tools or hunting weapons. The idea of this nasty piece of work is to slash it at the face of your opponent. Not a deadly weapon, but certainly able to help you make a point. Attached Images

30th August 2010, 04:45 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,755	Ron you said you would post some stones? You lucky chap, compere with these pictures. It is interesting that the items in the colour pictures are from "expeditions" as late as 1901-2. Colour pictures Pitt Rivers Oxford. The black and white "Australian Aboriginal Stone Implements, F.D. McCarthy, Australian Museum" The lacerator is post the same size as in the publication. Attached Images

30th August 2010, 07:25 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,755	correction. Got to show this. I have a Dugong tusk. Only about 4" would be exposed. Took a while to identify it. Could still be hippo? Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 30th August 2010 at 09:19 PM.

31st August 2010, 02:26 AM	#4
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Hi Tim Thanks for your post. Apologies for not posting photos of the stones. I've only just got this camera. I'll post some pics of my Australian stones on that thread to keep the conversation consistent. Thanks for showing those references. I do have the book the black and white pictures are from. My knife I think must be an older example, considering the fluted grip and the general ornament, as well as the wear to the grip. It seems to be from central Australia and has ochre on the front of the item where the teeth are. I think it's better than the two I've seen in the Australian Museum. Aboriginal knives of any kind are kind of rare, but this is very unusual. Here's another good piece I have. I don't know much about it. It's got a very pronounced curve and is considerably longer than most aboriginal stone knives. I think it might have been used primarily for circumcisions. Ouch. PS. That tooth reminds me a bit of walrus ivory, so you're probably right about it being dugong. Attached Images

31st August 2010, 02:52 AM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,061	Those teeth look rather flat and pointed. I'm not sure they fit the profile for kangaroo teeth. I would more likely think shark. Here are the skulls of 2 different types of kangaroo. Attached Images

31st August 2010, 03:13 AM	#6
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Hi David You could be right. I did initially think these were Shark's Teeth. I changed my mind after looking at shark's teeth, but this could be a different type I haven't spotted. I have noticed that the teeth on the kangaroo implements I saw in the museum were pretty sharp. It is possible it was constructed of just the incisors from these animals. That would mean killing more kangaroos, of course, but there are plenty of those in Australia, so no problem there. If they are shark's teeth, this would change the location of this artefact from central Australia to Queensland. This is a bit surprising because of the ochre on the item which I associate with central Australia more. Regardless, the weapon still seems to have disappeared a century or so ago. I suspect, as much as anything, it simply became obsolete as European implements became more readily accessible. A lot of work must have gone into making this - I suspect, the process of preparing the cement (for want of a better word) was pretty laborious. It looks primitive, this knife. But it's pretty well made. Nonetheless, it has a limited function. It can't really be used for anything other than fighting. It seems to have been an implement carried almost exclusively by young men – a kind of indigenous Australian switchblade, if you like.