Mendi fighting axe

Tim Simmons · 5th October 2012, 09:25 AM

My new toy with serious business end, yet to arrive. I think you can get some idea that it has quite a heavy blade from the picture that shows just a glimpse of one side. What interested me most was the nice subtle rounded finish to the grinding of the blade- best seen in the right hand face of the blade. For some reason the left hand face does not show this so well although still noticable. The basic measurements are 22" x 22" which is a few inches smaller than a fancy and purely ceremonial axe I have already. So I am looking forward to viewing the two together.

Tim Simmons · 20th October 2012, 07:00 PM

At last it is in my hands. This has turned out to be a splendid addition to my collection. I am greatly surprised and pleased to find that this really super axe blade appears to be a text book example from a known quarry. I will probably have to make two posts to show all the information I have. The research comes from a paper-

" Stone Axes Factories in the Highlands of East New Guinea. Chappell, J proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 32, 1966 "

The field work being carried out 1963-64. Firstly I will post more pictures of the blade and complete axe. Secondly I will post the relevant extracts from the paper. I have not taken detail pictures of the binding which looks like tree or shrub bark.

Looking at the blade you can see the pyritized structure to the stone. This is important to identifying the souce quarry. It is a lovely big blade just right for rearranging the head of an enemy.

Tim Simmons · 20th October 2012, 07:11 PM

The blade fits all description and illustations in the paper. As the auther suggests the quarry has been unworked for 20-25 years that puts the blade to the early1940s at least.

Quarry no8 in the Kubor mountains. Fig. 2 C.

The fine ceremonial blades are said to take up to 3 weeks grinding. I have tried to add the pages in sequence but they are all jumbled up. Hope it is not too hard to follow?

Tim Simmons · 1st November 2012, 07:17 PM

Interesting article about fighting. From July 1939 edition "Asia" American Magazine of the Orient. The "Kaman" though I cannot find any information on "Kaman" are from the headwaters of the Purari River which is south of the Asaro River illustrated in the previous posting.
I had to pay for it but you can have it for free. Some people love every penny in an unpleasant way. Should upload in order as all pages are reduced to the same size.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 28th November 2012, 03:44 PM

Salaams Tim Simmons ~ This is amazing ... I simply had to give this one a bump !! Incredible !!

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Tim Simmons · 28th November 2012, 05:23 PM

Thank you Ibrahiim very kind of you. I am sorry the first section of text is all jumbled up but is seems you have not had a problem following it. I too think it quite fascinating. I could not believe how in a period of a few weeks all the information just came together. I did have to probe and the first section came from a specialist book and paper seller.

colin henshaw · 29th November 2012, 01:38 PM

Thought this might go well with Tim's thread - from the book "The History of Mankind" by F Ratzel 1896.

5th October 2012, 09:25 AM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Mendi fighting axe My new toy with serious business end, yet to arrive. I think you can get some idea that it has quite a heavy blade from the picture that shows just a glimpse of one side. What interested me most was the nice subtle rounded finish to the grinding of the blade- best seen in the right hand face of the blade. For some reason the left hand face does not show this so well although still noticable. The basic measurements are 22" x 22" which is a few inches smaller than a fancy and purely ceremonial axe I have already. So I am looking forward to viewing the two together. Attached Images

20th October 2012, 07:00 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	At last it is in my hands. This has turned out to be a splendid addition to my collection. I am greatly surprised and pleased to find that this really super axe blade appears to be a text book example from a known quarry. I will probably have to make two posts to show all the information I have. The research comes from a paper- " Stone Axes Factories in the Highlands of East New Guinea. Chappell, J proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 32, 1966 " The field work being carried out 1963-64. Firstly I will post more pictures of the blade and complete axe. Secondly I will post the relevant extracts from the paper. I have not taken detail pictures of the binding which looks like tree or shrub bark. Looking at the blade you can see the pyritized structure to the stone. This is important to identifying the souce quarry. It is a lovely big blade just right for rearranging the head of an enemy. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 20th October 2012 at 07:15 PM.

20th October 2012, 07:11 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	The blade fits all description and illustations in the paper. As the auther suggests the quarry has been unworked for 20-25 years that puts the blade to the early1940s at least. Quarry no8 in the Kubor mountains. Fig. 2 C. The fine ceremonial blades are said to take up to 3 weeks grinding. I have tried to add the pages in sequence but they are all jumbled up. Hope it is not too hard to follow? Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 20th October 2012 at 09:04 PM. Reason: spelling

1st November 2012, 07:17 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Interesting article about fighting. From July 1939 edition "Asia" American Magazine of the Orient. The "Kaman" though I cannot find any information on "Kaman" are from the headwaters of the Purari River which is south of the Asaro River illustrated in the previous posting. I had to pay for it but you can have it for free. Some people love every penny in an unpleasant way. Should upload in order as all pages are reduced to the same size. Attached Images

28th November 2012, 03:44 PM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams Tim Simmons ~ This is amazing ... I simply had to give this one a bump !! Incredible !! Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 28th November 2012 at 03:57 PM.

28th November 2012, 05:23 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thank you Ibrahiim very kind of you. I am sorry the first section of text is all jumbled up but is seems you have not had a problem following it. I too think it quite fascinating. I could not believe how in a period of a few weeks all the information just came together. I did have to probe and the first section came from a specialist book and paper seller.

29th November 2012, 01:38 PM	#7
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Thought this might go well with Tim's thread - from the book "The History of Mankind" by F Ratzel 1896. Attached Images