Accession No

1918.87


Description

A notched axe made from a ground volcanic stone, probably basalt. Blade is a large, broad lobe of lenticular cross-section. Butt end is in the form of a fish tail: the base of the blade has a rounded notch on each side ending in a point; the butt is expanded but narrower than the blade and has a rounded end.


Place

Americas; Caribbean; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Saint Vincent; Kingston


Period

Pre-Columbian/Pre-Hispanic


Source

Griffith, William (Rev.) [collector]; Griffith, Arthur Foster [donor]


Department

Arch


Reference Numbers

1918.87


Cultural Affliation


Material

Stone; Volcanic; ?Basalt


Local Term


Measurements

109mm x 163mm


Events

Description (Labels & Markings)
Handwritten label adhered to object reads 'f. Estate n. Kingston. St. Vincent, W.I. G. Maynard Esq. per F.F. Pilgrim. June 1873. W.G.' in black ink.
Event Date
Author: maa


Context (Display)
Likely part of the 'large collection of the implements' exhibited by Rev. Griffith's paper during the 24 November 1873 meeting of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society. (see PCAS vol 3(4)).
Event Date 24/11/1873
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Context (Field collection)
Collected in June 1873.
Event Date 6/1873
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Context (References)
Griffith, W. (1879). ‘Notes on Charib Implements in Barbados and the Neighbouring (West Indian) Islands’. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, vol. 3(4). pp. 295-302.
Event Date 1879
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card: 'Fish-tail axe, narrow waist and small curved butt; Ground.'
Event Date 1918
Author: maa


Description (Physical description)
Accession register: 'Celt...with fish-tail butt.... 1 larger.'
Event Date 1918
Author: Lizzy Peneycad


Context (Acquisition Details)
Rev. William Griffith's Caribbean collection was collected between 2 October 1872 and 2 July 1873, whilst he was acting tutor at Codrington College, Barbados. It was donated to the museum in 1918 by his brother, Arthur Foster Griffith, likely following the death of Rev. Griffith that same year.
Event Date 1918
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Description (Physical description)
A notched axe made from a ground volcanic stone, probably basalt. Blade is a large, broad lobe of lenticular cross-section. Butt end is in the form of a fish tail: the base of the blade has a rounded notch on each side ending in a point; the butt is expanded but narrower than the blade and has a rounded end.
Event Date 6/6/2024
Author: Lizzy Peneycad


FM:137822

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