An Aboriginal spear

kino · 13th December 2010, 09:53 PM

Picked this up a while back. Don't know much about it. Perhaps someone can shine some light on it for me, as a favor.

A Aboriginal Tiwi (?), wooden barbed spear. I saw one similar on an ethnographic website. Also saw one at the Bishop Museum but didn't really pay attention to it.
This one is an uncut spear, length 7'7.5", width

VANDOO · 13th December 2010, 10:24 PM

YES IT LOOKS LIKE A TIWI SPEAR FROM MELVILLE OR BATHURST ISLAND A BIT NORTH OF DARWIN AUSTRALIA. NICE ONE AND UNUSUAL TO FIND ONE STILL FULL LEGNTH AND NOT CUT OFF. CONGRADULATIONS

I VISITED THE TIWI ONCE AND THEY USE ALL NATURAL PIGMENTS IN THEIR PAINTS . THERE ARE MANY AREAS WITH SOIL OF MANY COLORS ON THE ISLANDS AS WELL AS AROUND DARWIN. THE TIWI HAD A REPUTATION AS VERY FIERCE WARIORS.

kino · 14th December 2010, 06:58 AM

Thanks Vandoo .
I'm suspecting that this spear is ceremonial and not made for hunting or fighting, am I correct on this assumption? Did they use spear throwers for spears of this length?

VANDOO · 14th December 2010, 07:40 AM

TODAY THEY ARE USED FOR CEREMONIES AND TO PRESENT TO IMPORTANT VISITORS. THEY ALSO MAKE THEM TO SELL TO ETHINOGRAPHIC ART COLLECTORS.

MOST PRESENTATION PIECES ARE MADE SHORT (JUST THE FANCY BARBED TIP) THE LONG FULL LEGNTH WOULD EITHER BE FOR CEREMONIES OR IF A GOOD OLD ONE PERHAPS FOR WAR. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH WRITTEN ON IF THEY USED SUCH FANCY SPEARS FOR WAR AND ITS DOUBTFUL THEY WOULD HAVE USED THEM FOR HUNTING UNLESS IT WAS SOME SPECIAL HUNT OR BEAST.?? THERE ARE SOME BOOKS AVAILABLE ON THE TIWI BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT MUCH DETAIL ON WEAPONS OR WARFARE. I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING SPEAR THROWERS THERE BUT THEY USE THEM ON THE MAINLAND SO IT IS LIKELY THEY USED THEM TOO BUT PERHAPS NOT WITH THE FANCY SPEARS??.

colin henshaw · 15th December 2010, 02:55 PM

A very fine Tiwi spear from Northern Australia and as already noted, rare being not cut down.

Congratulations.

kino · 16th December 2010, 05:55 AM

I have seen another Aboriginal spear. This one was unpainted and about 9 feet in length. If used for war, I would guess they would throw them, they would be too flimsy to just to keep the enemy at bay.
The Hawaiian long spear that were 15 feet in length were used to keep their opponents at bay, too long and heavy to be thrown, my guess.

13th December 2010, 09:53 PM	#1
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,007	An Aboriginal spear Picked this up a while back. Don't know much about it. Perhaps someone can shine some light on it for me, as a favor. A Aboriginal Tiwi (?), wooden barbed spear. I saw one similar on an ethnographic website. Also saw one at the Bishop Museum but didn't really pay attention to it. This one is an uncut spear, length 7'7.5", width Attached Images

13th December 2010, 10:24 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	YES IT LOOKS LIKE A TIWI SPEAR FROM MELVILLE OR BATHURST ISLAND A BIT NORTH OF DARWIN AUSTRALIA. NICE ONE AND UNUSUAL TO FIND ONE STILL FULL LEGNTH AND NOT CUT OFF. CONGRADULATIONS I VISITED THE TIWI ONCE AND THEY USE ALL NATURAL PIGMENTS IN THEIR PAINTS . THERE ARE MANY AREAS WITH SOIL OF MANY COLORS ON THE ISLANDS AS WELL AS AROUND DARWIN. THE TIWI HAD A REPUTATION AS VERY FIERCE WARIORS. Last edited by VANDOO; 14th December 2010 at 06:11 AM.

14th December 2010, 06:58 AM	#3
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,007	Thanks Vandoo . I'm suspecting that this spear is ceremonial and not made for hunting or fighting, am I correct on this assumption? Did they use spear throwers for spears of this length?

14th December 2010, 07:40 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	TODAY THEY ARE USED FOR CEREMONIES AND TO PRESENT TO IMPORTANT VISITORS. THEY ALSO MAKE THEM TO SELL TO ETHINOGRAPHIC ART COLLECTORS. MOST PRESENTATION PIECES ARE MADE SHORT (JUST THE FANCY BARBED TIP) THE LONG FULL LEGNTH WOULD EITHER BE FOR CEREMONIES OR IF A GOOD OLD ONE PERHAPS FOR WAR. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH WRITTEN ON IF THEY USED SUCH FANCY SPEARS FOR WAR AND ITS DOUBTFUL THEY WOULD HAVE USED THEM FOR HUNTING UNLESS IT WAS SOME SPECIAL HUNT OR BEAST.?? THERE ARE SOME BOOKS AVAILABLE ON THE TIWI BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT MUCH DETAIL ON WEAPONS OR WARFARE. I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING SPEAR THROWERS THERE BUT THEY USE THEM ON THE MAINLAND SO IT IS LIKELY THEY USED THEM TOO BUT PERHAPS NOT WITH THE FANCY SPEARS??.

15th December 2010, 02:55 PM	#5
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	A very fine Tiwi spear from Northern Australia and as already noted, rare being not cut down. Congratulations.

16th December 2010, 05:55 AM	#6
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,007	I have seen another Aboriginal spear. This one was unpainted and about 9 feet in length. If used for war, I would guess they would throw them, they would be too flimsy to just to keep the enemy at bay. The Hawaiian long spear that were 15 feet in length were used to keep their opponents at bay, too long and heavy to be thrown, my guess.