E0457: Inuit- Adze
Ethnographic
Identifier:
E0457
Classification Category:
4:Tools & Equipment for Materials ➞ Woodworking T&E
Marks/Labels:
Tag that says "Northwestern Alaska Fair Association" on the top. Open lines are filled in with pencil.
Materials:
animal ➔ bone
animal ➔ hide/skin ➔ rawhide
stone/minerals
Dimensions:
29 cm L
10.5 cm W
6.5 cm H
Use/Function:
"The Eskimos used adzes to cut up food, and they made special ones, for digging roots. The commonest form, an elbow as on a hoe, was varied by setting the blade at all degrees of angles. These angles became so acute as to create a U-shaped adze. Blades for the later adzes in all these areas were mostly metal, but numerous stone blades are found among which are examples of shell and elkhorn blades." - page 70, Indian and Eskimo Artifacts of North America.
Source Locality:
Point Hope, Alaska, USA
Acquisition Date:
1947
Description:
An Inuit adze with a bone handle and Jade blade. Used for chopping and shaping wood pieces.