Lance head and sheath
qalugyaq, qisran
“harpoon head; lance point,” “harpoon-blade sheath”
Language:
Central Yup'ik
Imarpiim unguvalriarinitamakunek makut maa-i kapurrcuutekngatait. (Those animals of the ocean, these here are tools to stab them.)
—John Phillip, Sr., 2002
Using a lance with detachable heads, a hunter could repeatedly stab a beluga whale, walrus, or seal, attaching a new head for each thrust. This head has a short wooden shaft, a bone tip, and a sharp stone blade made of polished slate. Lance heads were kept in protective wooden sheaths.
Culture:
Yup’ik
Region:
Nunivak Island, Alaska
Object Category:
Hunting
Dimensions:
Length: 29.0cm
Accession Date:
1874
Source:
William H. Dall (donor)
Museum:
National Museum of Natural History
Museum ID Number:
E016103
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