ARCL0113 Objects Report- Cassowary Bone Dagger

Figure 1- Anterior view of object A.0106

Figure 2- Posterior view of object A.0106

The object is a bone dagger that comes from the Abelam tribe located in the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. This object was collected by Anthony Forge, the notable anthropologist, in the 1960s and has been on long term loan to the University College London's Ethnography Collection for some time. The bone is from the skeleton of a cassowary bird, which is a native bird to New Guinea, Australia, and other surrounding islands (Animals.sandiegozoo.org, 2020). The dagger is 34.00cm in length, the width is 4.50cm at its thickest end (the handle/grip), and 1.50cm at the thinnest end (the blade). Its’ weight it around 9.85 kg. There are no signs of previous repairs, major cracks, or dents. There are, however, hints that the surface may once have been adorned with earth powdered pigments, based upon literary evidence and the dark deposits within the pattern's negative spaces. However, more tests would have to be conducted to prove this. The surface sheen of the dagger also points to the possibility that it had once been covered in a preservation consolidant or film. The patterns on the anterior surface fluoresce yellow-green under ultraviolet light, which rules out a number of consolidants. The bone may also just have an aged sheen to it, but more tests would need to be conducted to find out the source of the sheen and fluorescence. The dagger’s posterior is concaved and is semi-smooth. In the posterior condyle or round distinction at the joint end of a bone, a porous structure is observed, which is remnants of where marrow and blood vessels would have been. There are holes in the round joints of condyle which appear to be intentionally hand-made. 

The anterior patterns were engraved into the surface. The patterns hold spiritual and iconographical meaning to the Abelam people. The patterns most likely depict their ancestors and are strategically placed on the grip because  "physical contact with the designs was believed to provide supernatural reinforcement to the wielder (Newton, 1989, p. 309). The dagger itself holds a threefold purpose. Practically it is used as a weapon to stab victims in the neck, pelvis, or other major joints. Socially it is a status symbol among the men showcasing strength and prestige. Lastly, it has a spiritual purpose, for cassowaries are a major part of the Abelam’s religious beliefs and so it holds divine significance.

Preventive measures such as restricted light should be practiced so that the bone does not fade. Other measures should be having stabile temperatures and relative humidity settings in place so that the bone does not crack or break.

Animalsv.sandiegozoo.org. 2020. Cassowary | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants. [online] Available at: <https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/cassowary> [Accessed March 2020].

Newton, D., 1989. Mother Cassowary's Bones: Daggers of the East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea. Metropolitan Museum Journal, 24, pp.305-325.