Native American or African Weapons?

Jim McDougall · 3rd October 2005, 05:39 AM

These items, while inclining toward some sort of axe heads, seem to have strong resemblance to utilitarian implements, such as scrapers for hides etc. The larger one, with its semilunar shape very much suggests a form of the knives used by the women for such purposes and termed 'ulu' (Stone , p.647).
These items, which evolved from early stone examples, are also described in "Eskimo and Native American Artifacts of North America", C.Miles, p.78, #3.28. The earlier examples are smaller with more closely radiused edge, but the later metal examples seem to have instances of the much wider, flared head with radiused edge. The other example, while again, axe like, seems to suggest something for scraping in the same manner. It is also noted these were equally used as chopping instruments in utility.

Just speculation of course, but the similarity seems compelling.

Best regards,
Jim

3rd October 2005, 05:39 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	These items, while inclining toward some sort of axe heads, seem to have strong resemblance to utilitarian implements, such as scrapers for hides etc. The larger one, with its semilunar shape very much suggests a form of the knives used by the women for such purposes and termed 'ulu' (Stone , p.647). These items, which evolved from early stone examples, are also described in "Eskimo and Native American Artifacts of North America", C.Miles, p.78, #3.28. The earlier examples are smaller with more closely radiused edge, but the later metal examples seem to have instances of the much wider, flared head with radiused edge. The other example, while again, axe like, seems to suggest something for scraping in the same manner. It is also noted these were equally used as chopping instruments in utility. Just speculation of course, but the similarity seems compelling. Best regards, Jim