Arrow

Museum number: UEM169 a-i  

Material: Stone, bamboo, sinew, feather, pigment 

Region and culture: Not determined (New Zealand, Peru, Melanesia, Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga) 

Description: Nine wooden arrows with arrowheads made of flint and decorated with feathers, most of which are broken. Length varies from 75-90 cm. Bow is missing. The catalogue text claims that these nine arrows originally came from New Zealand. As there is not any evidence showing that the Māori used bows and arrows, New Zealand can be excluded as a place of origin. Both Tonga and Fiji have been suggested as provenance for these arrows, however in both these places wooden arrowheads were used, and the ones in this collection are made of flint. Tahiti was also up for place of origin, however, their arrows were without feathers. It is therefore possible to assume that Melanesia or South America, perhaps Peru, as provinance for these arrows. The production date is unknown, but they were donated to the Ethnographic Museum in 1833.