Kangaroo Tooth Lacerator

[Tim Simmons]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Ron Anderson]

Hi David

This is the best close up of the teeth I can manage.

There are little striations on the both sides of each tooth, which you may not be able to see on the photo.

If you look at Tim's reference posted here you'll see the item there described as "kangaroo tooth" lacerator too. Those teeth look similar to those of my knife.

But that could be wrong. I don't know.

Ron

[Tim Simmons]

Ron thanks for the pictures. Love that knife of yours, beautiful work. Something I find most interesting. Look at the knife blades in the colour pictures I post, how modern and similar in form to steel forged and ground blades, reminding me of Pukko knives.

The teeth on the lacerator are most probably as stated "Kangeroo" just ground to the desired point.

[VANDOO]

I HAVE INCLUDED A PICTURE OF A BARACUDA JAW USED IN HAWAII FOR SCARIFICATION. THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINALS ALSO PRACTICED SCARIFICATION AND IT IS A SOURCE OF PRIDE TO SHOW THEIR TRIBAL SCARS, SEE PICTURE. MOST AUSTRALIAN TRIBES I KNOW OF USED SPEARS AND SHIELDS ALONG WITH THROWING CLUBS AND STRIKING CLUBS AS THEIR PRIMARY WEAPONS. IF A TRIBE HAD ONLY A SMALL WEAPON SUCH AS THE ONE YOU HAVE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE FARED WELL IN BATTLE. SO PERHAPS IT IS MOSTLY FOR USE IN RITUAL AND PERHAPS COULD BE USED FOR SCARIFICATION WHICH WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE AUSTRALIAN TRIBES. JUST A POSSIBILITY
MOST FISH AND LIZZARD TEETH TEND TO BE MORE FLATTENED WHILE THOSE FROM MAMMALS TEND TO BE MORE ROUND. I AM NOT SURE IF THERE ARE ANY LARGE FRESHWATER FISH IN AUSTRALIA THAT HAVE LARGE TEETH. THE GOANNA MONITOR LIZZARD WOULD HAVE LARGE TEETH. THERE ARE PLENTY OF MARSUPIALS IN AUSTRALIA AS WELL AS KANGAROO TO CHECK FOR COMPARISONS. THANKS FOR POSTING A VERY UNUSUAL AND INTERESTING ITEM. GOOD LUCK