New Acquisitions

Curved wooden sealing club. A cylindrical iron piece is attached by four nails on the exterior side of the blade. Handle is tapered, with a groove and another iron piece running through it. Top and bottom are sawn flat. Large crack running the length of the blade on one side.

Complete tā (maul or mallet). There is a concave depression, somewhat blackened, that sits just off-centre on flat face of head, which is oval in shape. The back of the maul is rounded and smoothed. The word "Ta" is written in Mission script form on proper right of front face. The handle tapers gently, with a knob at the end. There is a groove on the bottom of the knob, possibly unintentional. Handle has polished patina.

Complete maul. Concave depression sits centre of flat oval face of head with round rear. A split in grain runs from deep in depression towards distal end. Head tapers to handle with even width to proximal end with phallic type knob which has deep split on rear of knob. Rear of head has deep splits running with the grain to proximal point. Small nail sits in centre of shoulder between head and handle.

Complete adze. Cross-section of butt is oval, blade is rectangular. Surface is mostly bruised, ground patch on the front side just below shoulder of butt. Minor differentiation between butt and blade, front reduced to form shoulder. Bevel is continuous with blade, blade is blunt and curved.

Complete roughout. Cross-section is oval. Surface is flaked. No differentiation between butt and blade, sides taper towards poll. Bevel and cutting edge unfinished.

Complete greenstone gouge. The cross-section is circular at the bevel and quadrangular at the butt. The surface is ground with some flake scars. There is no distinction between the butt and the blade. The poll is oblique and straight. The bevel is concave and demarcated by two straight lines that meet in a small curve in the middle. The cutting edge is curved.

Bone comb, one out of three teeth has broken off. Slightly concave in cross section. Proximal end is squared off, with decorative notches on each side edge. Sawing marks to create teeth are still evident on the back side.

complete oval butt becoming a trapezoidal blade, front narrowing to the back The surface of the lithic is significantly bruised, ground and flaked. Significant differentiation between the butt and the blade, the blade reduces clearly from the sides forming a shoulder. The bevel is curved and made distinct from the blade by a clear ridge. The cutting edge is curved and sharp.

Broken bone comb, head remaining. Rounded at the proximal end. A carved head is projecting off one side edge; mouth and tongue indicated by incised marks. Evidence of 24 or 25 teeth, all broken at the base of the head.

Complete pounamu adze Cross-section is rectangle. The surface is ground with heavy flaking at poll and down sides. The proper right side has sawing marks. The butt is undifferentiated. The bevel is demarcated by a straight line. Cutting edge is straight and sharp.

Complete bone point, distal end sharpened, very tip broken off.