Easter Island weaponry and other interesting facts

VANDOO · 16th January 2012, 09:50 PM

A FEW PICTURES THE SHORT PATA FORM CLUBS SEEM TO RANGE IN LEGNTH FROM 18 TO 22 INCHES. I THINK THEY MAY BE REFERRED TO LOCALLY AS PAOA. THE LONGER DOUBBLE ENDED VARIETY AND LONGER POLE SHAPED ONES WOULD HAVE MADE A GOOD WEAPON BUT PERHAPS WERE ONLY SYMBOLIC BUT THERE DOES SEEM TO BE QUITE A FEW IN EXISTANCE IF ONLY FOR CEREMONY AND HIGH RANKING MEMBERS?
I FIND THE SHAPES OF THE EASTER ISLAND OBSIDIAN POINTS UNUSUAL THERE SEVERAL PICTURES OF THESE. SOME EXAMPLES ARE DEFINITELY OLD AND SOME LIKELY NOT AS OLD AS I. ONE PICTURE OF VARIOUS OLD ARTEFACTS FROM EASTER ISLAND. SOME OF THE CARVINGS I HAVE SEEN COULD HAVE SERVED AS A DAGGER THE LIZZARD MAN BEING ONE FORM AND THERE IS A BIRD MAN FORM THAT SOME WOULD SERVE AS A PICK TYPE CLUB? UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO PICTURES OF A COMPLETE SPEAR ONLY POINTS.

migueldiaz · 17th January 2012, 12:30 AM

Gav & Vandoo, nice

thanks!

Gavin Nugent · 21st January 2012, 03:49 AM

Barry, thank you so very much for bringing forth these images!

Of interest are those knapped spear heads and what an odd shape to see...square....

There are very similar weapons to the Maori too, great stuff!

AJ1356 · 21st January 2012, 11:51 AM

This is some cool stuff, thanks for sharing. To me the arrow heads could mean hunting, or maybe a bit more advanced warfare than wooden clubs. Very interesting.

fearn · 21st January 2012, 05:12 PM

Hi AJ,

I think those flaked obsidian are "spear" heads, not arrowheads. They were the sharp end of a weapon known as a mata'a. On a short shaft, they were used as a short spear/dagger/axe, while on a longer shaft, they became polearm heads. These weapons were used by the toa (warriors) and matatoa (master warriors) who basically took over when Rapan society broke down. They're quite common on the island, (un)fortunately, and they seem to be quite variable in size and shape.

Best,

F

AJ1356 · 22nd January 2012, 12:09 PM

fearn,
Thanks for the info, always was facinated the by Easter Islands and what could be discovered there. But ofcourse I don't have much info, so learning things here and there is very helpful .

VANDOO · 25th January 2012, 12:58 AM

A PICTURE OF A RARE OLD EASTER ISLAND CLUB, REPRESENTING THE FISH MAN. IT IS IN AN ARTICLE ON EASTER ISLAND IN THE TWO BOOK SET " WONDERS OF THE PAST" BY HAMMERTON 1948 VOL.1 COPYWRITE 1923 TO 1937. UNFORTUNATELY NO SIZE GIVEN BUT I SUSPECT IT TO BE FROM 18 TO 24 INCHES LONG AT MAXIMUM. ITS ONE OF MY FAVORITES AND RESEMBLES A TYPE OF WRASSE FISH.

A SIDE NOTE! EVEN THOUGH THE NATIVES OF EASTER ISLAND HAD OBSIDIAN ONE OF THE BEST AND EASIEST MATERIALS FOR KNAPPING STONE POINTS THEY NEVER DEVELOPED THE MASTERY TO MAKE THE INCREDIBLE POINTS BUT REMAINED VERY CRUDE. YET ANOTHER MYSTERY OF THE ISLAND.

16th January 2012, 09:50 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A FEW PICTURES THE SHORT PATA FORM CLUBS SEEM TO RANGE IN LEGNTH FROM 18 TO 22 INCHES. I THINK THEY MAY BE REFERRED TO LOCALLY AS PAOA. THE LONGER DOUBBLE ENDED VARIETY AND LONGER POLE SHAPED ONES WOULD HAVE MADE A GOOD WEAPON BUT PERHAPS WERE ONLY SYMBOLIC BUT THERE DOES SEEM TO BE QUITE A FEW IN EXISTANCE IF ONLY FOR CEREMONY AND HIGH RANKING MEMBERS? I FIND THE SHAPES OF THE EASTER ISLAND OBSIDIAN POINTS UNUSUAL THERE SEVERAL PICTURES OF THESE. SOME EXAMPLES ARE DEFINITELY OLD AND SOME LIKELY NOT AS OLD AS I. ONE PICTURE OF VARIOUS OLD ARTEFACTS FROM EASTER ISLAND. SOME OF THE CARVINGS I HAVE SEEN COULD HAVE SERVED AS A DAGGER THE LIZZARD MAN BEING ONE FORM AND THERE IS A BIRD MAN FORM THAT SOME WOULD SERVE AS A PICK TYPE CLUB? UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO PICTURES OF A COMPLETE SPEAR ONLY POINTS. Attached Images

25th January 2012, 12:58 AM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A PICTURE OF A RARE OLD EASTER ISLAND CLUB, REPRESENTING THE FISH MAN. IT IS IN AN ARTICLE ON EASTER ISLAND IN THE TWO BOOK SET " WONDERS OF THE PAST" BY HAMMERTON 1948 VOL.1 COPYWRITE 1923 TO 1937. UNFORTUNATELY NO SIZE GIVEN BUT I SUSPECT IT TO BE FROM 18 TO 24 INCHES LONG AT MAXIMUM. ITS ONE OF MY FAVORITES AND RESEMBLES A TYPE OF WRASSE FISH. A SIDE NOTE! EVEN THOUGH THE NATIVES OF EASTER ISLAND HAD OBSIDIAN ONE OF THE BEST AND EASIEST MATERIALS FOR KNAPPING STONE POINTS THEY NEVER DEVELOPED THE MASTERY TO MAKE THE INCREDIBLE POINTS BUT REMAINED VERY CRUDE. YET ANOTHER MYSTERY OF THE ISLAND. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 25th January 2012 at 06:17 AM.

17th January 2012, 12:30 AM	#2
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Gav & Vandoo, nice thanks!

21st January 2012, 03:49 AM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Barry, thank you so very much for bringing forth these images! Of interest are those knapped spear heads and what an odd shape to see...square.... There are very similar weapons to the Maori too, great stuff!

21st January 2012, 11:51 AM	#4
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 317	This is some cool stuff, thanks for sharing. To me the arrow heads could mean hunting, or maybe a bit more advanced warfare than wooden clubs. Very interesting.

21st January 2012, 05:12 PM	#5
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi AJ, I think those flaked obsidian are "spear" heads, not arrowheads. They were the sharp end of a weapon known as a mata'a. On a short shaft, they were used as a short spear/dagger/axe, while on a longer shaft, they became polearm heads. These weapons were used by the toa (warriors) and matatoa (master warriors) who basically took over when Rapan society broke down. They're quite common on the island, (un)fortunately, and they seem to be quite variable in size and shape. Best, F

22nd January 2012, 12:09 PM	#6
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 317	fearn, Thanks for the info, always was facinated the by Easter Islands and what could be discovered there. But ofcourse I don't have much info, so learning things here and there is very helpful .