Whale Harpoon and lanyard
Dateca. 1880
Maker
Makah
Label TextHarpoon points with heavy yew wood shafts were attached to long cedar rope lines holding sealskin floats. As the harpoon penetrated the breaching whale behind the left flipper, the floats unfurled, causing resistance to the struggling whale. Thus weakened, it would be dispatched with lance thrusts. Originally harpoon blades were made from sharpened mussel shells, but sea mammal hunters were quick to adopt metal points.
Object number2006.25
Credit LineGift of John and Grace Putnam
DimensionsLength: 300in. (762cm)
Width: 3in. (7.6cm)
MediumIron point, elk antler, spruce pitch, fiber cord
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