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Katoua

human history
  • Other Name

    Cleaving club (English)

  • Description

    Katoua. Club. This is a large katoua, made of wood and is dual-purposed as a cleaver and spear. The traditional purpose of such club is for intended bodily harm during combat however it is possible that this katoua was designed for dances such as takalo (war dance) and meke (drum dance). The blade of the cleaver is long, narrowing to its pointed form, and resembles a paddle blade. For the other half, the blade narrows to a circular shaft.

    This shaft is a part of a short spear, marked by a circumferential protrusion and a pointed tip. Overall, this katoua is dark brown in colour by which appears to be of synthetic source. Several cuts and marks, which are all lengthways, present across surface of katoua. A thick, brown, commercial string is tied around the shaft near the spear.

  • Place
    [Niue]/Pacific
  • Accession Number
    1927.117
  • Accession Date
    1927
  • Other Id

    989 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

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  • club

Artefact

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