Jur Luo spear

Other views of this artifact:

Accession Number:

1939.7.106 .1

Country:

Sudan

Region:

[Southern Sudan] Eastern Equatoria Torit Lafon

Cultural Group:

Jur Luo

Date Made:

By 1939

Materials:

Iron Metal , Wood Plant

Process:

Forged (Metal) , Hammered , Socketed , Carved , Stained , Polished

Dimensions:

Total L = 1730; spearhead L = 463, blade L = 224, W = 51, th = 5.5; shank diam = 8; socket diam = 16.5 x 16; shaft diam = 14.3 x 14; spear butt L = 278, socket diamm = 13.7 x 13.4, base diam = 6.4 x 6.8 mm [RTS 18/7/2005].

Weight:

430.9 g

Other Owners:

Armine Charles Almroth Wright

Field Collector:

?Armine Charles Almroth Wright

PRM Source:

Armine Charles Almroth Wright

Acquired:

Donated July 1939

Collected Date:

By 1939

Description:

Spear consisting of an iron head with large leaf-shaped blade, and 2 convex barbs at its base; this has a raised ridge running down the centre of both sides. At its base, it joins with a solid shank, roughly circular in plan view, with a further 2 barbs on either side - one curving down, and the other curving upwards. At its base, the shank opens up to form a cylindrical socket with seam running up one side, slightly open at its base. This has been fitted over the top of a wooden shaft with oval section, the surface of which has been stained a dark reddish brown (Pantone 469C). This has a number of blackened spots along its length, where it looks as though subsidiary branches may have been burnt off; the surface is smooth and has been polished. It tapers to its base, which has been fitted with a long iron spear butt with socketed top and a slightly open seam running down the side. This tapers to a solid oval sectioned body and ends in a flat base. The iron elements are a metallic grey colour (Pantone 877C). The spear is complete and intact, with a few minor scratches across the wood only. It has a weight of 430.9 grams and is 1730 mm long; the spearhead is 463 mm long, with a blade length of 224 mm, width of 51 mm and thickness of 5.5 mm at the midrib; the shank has a diameter of 8 mm and the socket a diameter of 16.5 by 16 mm. The shaft has an upper diameter of 14.3 by 14 mm, while the spear butt is 278 mm long, with a socket diameter of 13.7 by 13.4 mm and a base diameter of 6.5 by 6.8 mm.

This object was obtained by Armine Charles Almroth Wright at Lafon Hill, in the Torit district, and donated to the Pitt Rivers Museum in July 1939.

For a sheath probably belonging to this blade, see 1939.7.106.2.

Rachael Sparks 25/9/2005.

Primary Documentation:

Accession Book Entry [p. 244] - A.C.A. WRIGHT , ESQ., ... Granville Park, S.E.13. [p. 266, at top of column] July [next to entry] 1939.7.106/107 [double pencil tick after number] - [1 of] Pair of barbed spears from LAFON hill, LUO people, TORIT district, SOUTHERN SUDAN.

Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card for this object; another card at the head of this section states 'LUO-SPEAKING PEOPLE, LAFON HILL, S. SUDAN. These are a special group & are different from other branches of Luo-speaking people (q.v. under JA LUO) [RTS 1/6/2004].

Pitt Rivers Museum label - SUDAN [brown luggage label, tied to object]; 1939.7.106. S. SUDAN, TORIT, LAFON HILL, LUO, people. Spear. d.d. A.C.A. Wright [circular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 18/7/2005].