Item X 5154 Axe, hafted. Arrernte, Warumungu, Wakaya. Specific locality unrecorded, Desert East, Northern Territory, Australia. pre 1899

Summary

The stone axe is typical of the type made in central Australia with the pointed or pick-like end to the blade.

This was amongst a large collection purchased by the museum from Frank Gillen in 1899 and most likely collected by Gillen who arrived in central Australia in 1875.

Physical Description

A hafted axe with a stone blade set into a handle made of a single thin length of wood coated in red ochre. The handle is fluted longitudinally and bent over the blade and fixed with vegetable fibre string near the top and at the end. The bark sheath for the blade is bound with animal fur string.