Item X 101373 Ngupamurra | Axe, hafted. Milingimbi, Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia

Summary

Stone axes were used for many purposes, and those made for sale were usually painted with natural pigments to make to look nice. The axe head here is an edge ground stone that has been set into a wooden handle bound with vegetable fibre and then fixed into place with maypin or resin from the ironwood tree.

Local Name

Ngupamurra

Physical Description

A hafted edge ground stone axe mounted in resin completely covering the handle. Fibre is wound around the handle beneath the head and at the end where resin holds the handle together. 'Milingimbi' is written on the head, and a paper tag with '23' is adhered to the resin.