Sudanese axe types

Iain · 20th March 2013, 10:39 AM

Hi Colin and Jim,

Well that didn't take long to clear up! All makes sense now. The word "axe" is just what confused me.

Attached a photo of what the subject item should be then. Circa 1965.

Many thanks for helping clear the fog out of my brain and seeing this for what it is.

Jim McDougall · 20th March 2013, 04:55 PM

Iain, that looks remarkably like the simple line representations shown in MacMillan. Wonder how Nicolle could have interpolated the word axe?

Iain · 20th March 2013, 05:01 PM

Hi Jim,

Only thing I can think of is that the curve in the throwing stick reminded him of an axe shape?

To be fair, my understanding is that some of these were indeed used like a club and not exclusively thrown. Much like the metal Ingessana throwing knives - which were apparently cappable of being thrown but demonstrated as more of a sword-like weapon see Ingessana Throwing Knives (Sudan) M. C. Jedrej Anthropos , Bd. 70, H. 1./2. (1975), pp. 42-48.

Best,

Iain

Tim Simmons · 20th March 2013, 05:50 PM

I think this is one.

Luc LEFEBVRE · 21st March 2013, 07:18 PM

Description:
A man (identified as Sirdal) holding a large hide shield covering his body with two spears behind it, as well as a luin (Arabic, trombash) or throwing stick in his right hand held by his side. The long building with small windows to his side is identified as a rest-house (possibly hospital related) at the settlement of Baw (wisko).
Photographer:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Date of Photo:
1926 November - December
Region:
Blue Nile Tabi Hills Baw
Group:
Ingessana (Gaam)
PITT RIVERS MUSEUM

Luc LEFEBVRE · 21st March 2013, 07:20 PM

Throwing weapon carved from a single piece of wood and with a flat, rectangular section throughout. This consists of a broad splaying head cut flat across the top edge, and carved with 2 elongated triangular spikes projecting from either side, and 2 shorter spurs below on one side only. This head then tapers in to a curving handle that gradually narrows towards its end, splaying out again slightly at the butt. The sides of the object have been cut straight, except for the 2 curved areas between the projecting spikes, where the edges have been cut at an angle. The wood has been stained a dark reddish brown (Pantone 4695C) and polished. The object is complete and intact; the spikes on one side appear to be worn and damaged at their tips. It has a weight of 575.3 grams and is 692 mm long, with a head width of 320 mm and thickness of 12 mm, while the handle end is 36.2 mm wide and 11.5 mm thick.

Collected by L. Gorringe in the Sudan sometime between 1902 and 1912, and donated to the Museum by his widow in October 1944.

Similar throwing sticks, called luny, were used by the Ingessana in hunting and warfare - see C. Spring, 1993, African Arms and Armour, fig. 69, p. 77 and R. Boccassino, 1960, "Contributo allo studio della ergologia delle popolazioni nilotiche e nilo-camitiche, Annali Lateranensi XXIV, fig. 32a-e It may also be related in some way to the flat bladed weapon collected from the Murle by Petherick (1884.12.8) .

Luc LEFEBVRE · 21st March 2013, 07:23 PM

A man demonstrating the throwing of a curved throwing weapon with a bulbous end, on the lower slopes of the jebel, rising some 1,000 feet out of the Blue Nile plain, and with a circumference of some five miles. The Seligman's visited this location during their 1910 expedition to make investigations into physical anthropology as well as aracheology.
Photographer:
Charles Gabriel Seligman
Date of Photo:
1910 March-April
Region:
Blue Nile Jebel Gule
Group:
Gule

20th March 2013, 10:39 AM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Hi Colin and Jim, Well that didn't take long to clear up! All makes sense now. The word "axe" is just what confused me. Attached a photo of what the subject item should be then. Circa 1965. Many thanks for helping clear the fog out of my brain and seeing this for what it is. Attached Images

20th March 2013, 05:50 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,866	I think this is one. Attached Images

21st March 2013, 07:18 PM	#5
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	Description: A man (identified as Sirdal) holding a large hide shield covering his body with two spears behind it, as well as a luin (Arabic, trombash) or throwing stick in his right hand held by his side. The long building with small windows to his side is identified as a rest-house (possibly hospital related) at the settlement of Baw (wisko). Photographer: Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard Date of Photo: 1926 November - December Region: Blue Nile Tabi Hills Baw Group: Ingessana (Gaam) PITT RIVERS MUSEUM Attached Images

21st March 2013, 07:20 PM	#6
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	Throwing weapon carved from a single piece of wood and with a flat, rectangular section throughout. This consists of a broad splaying head cut flat across the top edge, and carved with 2 elongated triangular spikes projecting from either side, and 2 shorter spurs below on one side only. This head then tapers in to a curving handle that gradually narrows towards its end, splaying out again slightly at the butt. The sides of the object have been cut straight, except for the 2 curved areas between the projecting spikes, where the edges have been cut at an angle. The wood has been stained a dark reddish brown (Pantone 4695C) and polished. The object is complete and intact; the spikes on one side appear to be worn and damaged at their tips. It has a weight of 575.3 grams and is 692 mm long, with a head width of 320 mm and thickness of 12 mm, while the handle end is 36.2 mm wide and 11.5 mm thick. Collected by L. Gorringe in the Sudan sometime between 1902 and 1912, and donated to the Museum by his widow in October 1944. Similar throwing sticks, called luny, were used by the Ingessana in hunting and warfare - see C. Spring, 1993, African Arms and Armour, fig. 69, p. 77 and R. Boccassino, 1960, "Contributo allo studio della ergologia delle popolazioni nilotiche e nilo-camitiche, Annali Lateranensi XXIV, fig. 32a-e It may also be related in some way to the flat bladed weapon collected from the Murle by Petherick (1884.12.8) . Attached Images

21st March 2013, 07:23 PM	#7
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	A man demonstrating the throwing of a curved throwing weapon with a bulbous end, on the lower slopes of the jebel, rising some 1,000 feet out of the Blue Nile plain, and with a circumference of some five miles. The Seligman's visited this location during their 1910 expedition to make investigations into physical anthropology as well as aracheology. Photographer: Charles Gabriel Seligman Date of Photo: 1910 March-April Region: Blue Nile Jebel Gule Group: Gule Attached Images

20th March 2013, 04:55 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,352	Iain, that looks remarkably like the simple line representations shown in MacMillan. Wonder how Nicolle could have interpolated the word axe?

20th March 2013, 05:01 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Hi Jim, Only thing I can think of is that the curve in the throwing stick reminded him of an axe shape? To be fair, my understanding is that some of these were indeed used like a club and not exclusively thrown. Much like the metal Ingessana throwing knives - which were apparently cappable of being thrown but demonstrated as more of a sword-like weapon see Ingessana Throwing Knives (Sudan) M. C. Jedrej Anthropos , Bd. 70, H. 1./2. (1975), pp. 42-48. Best, Iain