Moru Misa axe

1979.20.29

Sudan

[Southern Sudan] Western Equatoria ?Lui ?Lanyi

Moru Misa

By 1979

Iron Metal , Wood Plant

Forged (Metal) , Hammered , Carved , Stained , Wedged

Handle L = 593, head W = 95.3, head th = 49.7, butt W = 39.5, th = 27.5, axehead L = 230, max W = 52, th = 8.5 mm [RTS 4/7/2005].

> 1000 g

Purchased by Patti Langton for £2.50 between 27th January and 5th February 1979 as part of the British Institute in Eastern Africa's Expedition to the Southern Sudan [RTS 15/6/2004].

Patti Langton

Patti Langton

Purchased 1979

Between 27 January and 5 February 1979

Axe consisting of an iron axehead hafted into a wooden handle. The axehead has been made from a single piece of iron, and consists of a narrow butt with a slightly splaying flattened end, on a rectangular sectioned body that gradually tapers out from this point towards the slightly curved cutting edge, which is bevelled on both sides. There is a slight depression down the length of both surfaces, but this does not extend all the way to the ends. It is currently a metallic gray around the cutting edge (Pantone 877C), and dull dark gray elsewhere. A rectangular hole has been cut into the upper part of the handle to accommodate the blade, which has been fitted through then held firm with a rough wedge of yellow, fresh-looking wood (Pantone 7509C). The handle has been cut from a tree branch, and has a splaying, knob-shaped head, that tapers in to a roughly cylindrical handle with some irregularities down its length, and a roughly cut faceted base. Shaving marks are visible down the handle length, and the surface appears to have been partially burnt or stained a dark brown colour (Pantone Black 7C). The object is complete, and has a weight in excess of 1000 grams. The handle is 593 mm long, with a head diameter of 95.3 by 49.7 mm and a butt diameter of 39.5 by 37.5 mm, while the axehead has a length of 230 mm, maximum width of 52 mm and thickness of 8.5 mm.

Purchased by Patti Langton for £2.50 between 27th January and 5th February 1979 as part of the British Institute in Eastern Africa's Expedition to the Southern Sudan. No provenance was recorded, but the expedition was collecting Moru material during this period from the settlements of Lui and Lanyi in Western Equatoria. The Moru name for this type of object was not recorded.

Rachael Sparks 6/9/2005.

Accession Book Entry [p. 185] - 1979.20 (.1 - 206) P[urchase] MISS PATTI LANGTON, DEPT. of ETHNOLOGY & PREHISTORY, OXFORD. Collection made by Patti Langton during the British Institute in East Africa's expedition to the Southern Sudan; Jan. - April 1979. The collection was made in three culture areas during the dry season. The amount paid for each object is listed if the information is known. In Jan. 1979 £1 is equivalent to 95 piastres (pt.) Sudanese. This documentation is based largely upon Patti's own list of objects and her notes on these. Sometimes objects included in the Pitt Rivers alottment of the collection do not appear on her list and have been added here. See Related Documents file as well. [pp 185 - 186] 1979.20.1 - 42 SOUTHERN SUDAN the MORU MISA The Moru Misa live about 100 miles west of Juba, the capital of the Southern Sudan. Part of the collection was made in Lui, a small town which has had extensive church and missionary activity over the past 50 years (excluding the period of civil war) and which now boasts a church, a hospital and a number of schools. The rest of the Moru Misa collection was made at Lanyi, 15 miles away, where the paramount chief of the area, Chief Elinama, arranged for people to bring artifacts for us to buy. Although money is known to the Moru, its use is limited and the concept of selling belongings is foreign to them. Hence the low prices and the relatively small number of artefacts. The Moru Misa are a geographical section of the Moru people. The Moru practice agriculture for subsistence; they do not keep cattle any longer. [p. 189] 1979.20.29 - Axe with iron blade and wood haft. Haft L = 59.3 cm.; blade L = 24 cm. Cost £2.50. Coll. no. 69.
Additional Accession Book Entry [in red biro under accession number] - A5-F32-7.

Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 2/6/2004].

Pitt Rivers Museum label - SOUTHERN SUDAN. MORU MISA tribal area, Axe. Pat Langton Coll., no. 69. 1979.20.29 [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object; RTS 4/7/2005].

Related Documents File - 1979.20 contains a typed packing list, which has been annotated; a typed list of objects arranged by Langton collection numbers and with pencil and biro annotations, and a handwritten list of objects by museum number, essentially repeating this information and annotated with PRM photo numbers in red. This handwritten list seems to be the direct source for the accession book entry. This object appears on Langton's list as a pencilled addition [RTS 12/1/2004].