Upper Nile river Harpoon? Fishing spear?

Shakethetrees · 26th August 2014, 07:30 AM

Here's something I am, not to make a bad pun, "fishing" for information on.

The blade to socket length is 11 inches and a fraction long, asymmetrically forged, (obverse to reverse), and with a single barb.

The shaft is stepped where the line is secured. It appears to be hemp.

The shaft seems to be palm wood or something like it with a linear straight grain that is prone to splintering. The swollen grip is nicely sculpted with facets.

Overall it is about 52 inches long.

I think it is from the upper Nile river region because of the manner in which the point was forged.

Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated!

Gavin Nugent · 26th August 2014, 12:31 PM

Fishing yes, but for bigger prey, the Hippo.

Most of my library is in storage but from memory, Congo...pictured in the 1910 British Museum Ethno handbook... I have a nice old one here in my collections too.

Shakethetrees · 26th August 2014, 03:39 PM

Thanks for the info!

I would have thought it was for something like Nile perch!

I would think the line present would not be anywhere strong enough for anything that large.

LJ · 26th August 2014, 09:42 PM

Do you know the Pitt-Rivers Museum web resource on Southern Sudan ? It contains a lot of images of people, and objects.

As for your harpoon, I would start thinkng about the Lake regions of Central Africa (but I could be wrong !) The B.M. Handbook figures harpoons for elephants as well as hippo.

Congoblades · 27th August 2014, 11:25 AM

This is one from Congo is similar, ngbandi/Bati (Yakomo)

Tim Simmons · 27th August 2014, 09:18 PM

Similar items from Uganda there is a cultural overlap.
h
ttp://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=467&highlight=poachers+bits

26th August 2014, 07:30 AM	#1
Shakethetrees Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 363	Upper Nile river Harpoon? Fishing spear? Here's something I am, not to make a bad pun, "fishing" for information on. The blade to socket length is 11 inches and a fraction long, asymmetrically forged, (obverse to reverse), and with a single barb. The shaft is stepped where the line is secured. It appears to be hemp. The shaft seems to be palm wood or something like it with a linear straight grain that is prone to splintering. The swollen grip is nicely sculpted with facets. Overall it is about 52 inches long. I think it is from the upper Nile river region because of the manner in which the point was forged. Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated! Attached Images

27th August 2014, 11:25 AM	#5
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	This is one from Congo is similar, ngbandi/Bati (Yakomo) Attached Images

26th August 2014, 12:31 PM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Fishing yes, but for bigger prey, the Hippo. Most of my library is in storage but from memory, Congo...pictured in the 1910 British Museum Ethno handbook... I have a nice old one here in my collections too.

26th August 2014, 03:39 PM	#3
Shakethetrees Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 363	Thanks for the info! I would have thought it was for something like Nile perch! I would think the line present would not be anywhere strong enough for anything that large.

26th August 2014, 09:42 PM	#4
LJ Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 93	Do you know the Pitt-Rivers Museum web resource on Southern Sudan ? It contains a lot of images of people, and objects. As for your harpoon, I would start thinkng about the Lake regions of Central Africa (but I could be wrong !) The B.M. Handbook figures harpoons for elephants as well as hippo.

27th August 2014, 09:18 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Similar items from Uganda there is a cultural overlap. h ttp://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=467&highlight=poachers+bits