Shilluk spear-head
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1961.9.6
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] [White Nile]
Cultural Group:
Shilluk
Date Made:
By 1961
Materials:
Iron Metal , Copper Metal ? , Brass Metal ?
Process:
Forged (Metal) , Hammered , Socketed , Decorated , Incised , Bent
Dimensions:
Total L = 663; blade L = 545, W = 76, th = 8; socket upper diam = 16, base diam = 22.3 x 22; ring diam = 24.3, W = 3.7, th = 3 mm [RTS 28/6/2005].
Weight:
701.6 g
Other Owners:
Taken from Shilluks while fighting on the White Nile by Mr & Mrs A.J. Forster.
Field Collector:
?Mr & Mrs A.J. Forster
PRM Source:
Mr & Mrs A.J. Forster
Acquired:
Donated September 1961
Collected Date:
By 1961
Description:
Spearhead made from a single piece of iron, consisting of a long leaf-shaped blade with rounded shoulders, thickened to form a raised midrib running down the centre on both sides and giving the blade a lozenge-shaped section.
At its base, this thickens to form a solid, round sectioned shank, then a socket that expands slightly towards its base, with a slightly open seam running up the front.
The base of the blade has been decorated with an incised herringbone design that runs down the lower part of the midrib; fine lines have also been cut into the edges of the shoulder on both sides, turning into two rows of oblique lines along the edges as the surface widens, with 3 thicker, horizontal lines cut across the side of the shank immediately below.
The shank itself is then decorated with five incised lines around its circumference, then a set of 3 concentric arcs on either side of the body below.
A copper or brass rod has been bent into a loop around this part of the spearhead, with the ends slightly apart.
The object is complete, but shows sign of wear, particularly on one side of the blade; it is currently a metallic gray colour (Pantone 877C) while the ring is a mixed metallic yellow (Pantone 872C) with some coppery tones.
It has a weight of 701.6 grams and a total length of 663 mm; the blade is 545 mm long, 76 mm wide at the shoulders and 8 mm thick at the centre; the socket has a top diameter of 16 mm and a base diameter of 22.3 by 22 mm, and the metal ring has a diameter of 24.3 mm, width of 3.7 mm and thickness of 3 mm.
This spearhead was taken from a Shilluk fighting on the White Nile and presented to the museum by Mr & Mrs A.J. Forster.
Domville Fife discusses Shilluk weaponry, as he saw it in the 1920's: ""The Shilluk warrior is never seen outside his tukl without a long spear, having a broad, leaf-shaped blade, and an ostrich feather tuft near the butt end. These spears are always kept scrupulously clean… In addition to this long, stabbing weapon, two small throwing spears are usually carried..." (C.W. Domville Fife, 1927, Savage Life in the Black Sudan, p. 69 and sketch on p. 68; the stabbing spear is said to vary in length from 6 to 8 feet.
Rachael Sparks 30/9/2005.
This spearhead was taken from a Shilluk fighting on the White Nile and presented to the museum by Mr & Mrs A.J. Forster.
Domville Fife discusses Shilluk weaponry, as he saw it in the 1920's: ""The Shilluk warrior is never seen outside his tukl without a long spear, having a broad, leaf-shaped blade, and an ostrich feather tuft near the butt end. These spears are always kept scrupulously clean… In addition to this long, stabbing weapon, two small throwing spears are usually carried..." (C.W. Domville Fife, 1927, Savage Life in the Black Sudan, p. 69 and sketch on p. 68; the stabbing spear is said to vary in length from 6 to 8 feet.
Rachael Sparks 30/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[p.
45] - Mr & Mrs A.J.
FORSTER, St Mary's ...
OXFORD.
Mr.
Forster was some time Bursar of MAGDALEN Coll., Oxford.
[p.
46] 1961.9.6.
- The same [as previous entry, = SUDAN, SHILLUK.
Iron spear-head, 70 cm long, socketed, taken from SHILLUK fighting on WHITE NILE], 66.5 cm long.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 23/7/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - 1961.9.6 SHILLUK. Taken from them while fighting on the WHITE NILE. d.d. Mr & Mrs A.J. Forster [circular metal-edged label, tied to object; RTS 24/6/2005].
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 23/7/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - 1961.9.6 SHILLUK. Taken from them while fighting on the WHITE NILE. d.d. Mr & Mrs A.J. Forster [circular metal-edged label, tied to object; RTS 24/6/2005].
