Spear
Production date
Pre 1970
Country
Australia
State/Province
Queensland
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Object detail
Classification
INDIGENOUS CULTURES Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spear
Production date
Pre 1970
Production place
Media/Materials description
Wood, metal, pigment, plant fibre, resin
History and use
Shell-handled spearthrowers are unique to the Torres Strait and Cape York Peninsula regions. With a broad blade shaft and a handle featuring a pair of oval-shaped pieces of baler shell, they were commonly traded northwards from the Cape York Peninsula into the islands of the Torres Strait. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in these regions would use the spearthrowers with spears such as this.
This item was most recently on display in the exhibition 'Connections across the Coral Sea: A story of movement' at Museum of Tropical Queensland (2021-2022) and Queensland Museum (2022-2023).
This item was most recently on display in the exhibition 'Connections across the Coral Sea: A story of movement' at Museum of Tropical Queensland (2021-2022) and Queensland Museum (2022-2023).
Associated person
Registration number
QE25639
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