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Maka tau

human history
  • Common Name
    Armament T&E, Bludgeon
  • Other Name

    Fighting Stone (English)

  • Description

    Maka tau. Fighting stone. This maka tau is made from maka uli (black stone or basalt) and would have been used in war as a throwing weapon. When used during combat, it would be thrown at the enemy from as far away a distance as four meters. This maka tau is ovoid or egg shaped, fitting comfortably within the palm of the hand. It is of a dark grey or black colour, with some brown blotches that may be the result of dirt.

    Its exterior surface is smooth but slightly textured from the hammer-dressing that would have been performed when shaping the rock. This texturing gives the maka tau a mottled quality and has also produced some white speckling on sections of the exterior as well. The maka tau was often used as a defending weapon in combat and if thrown correctly, could do real damage and even cause death.

  • Place
    Niue
  • Accession Number
    1929.30
  • Accession Date
    1929
  • Other Id

    3165 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

Maka tau, 1929.30, 3165, Photographed by Richard Ng,… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

  • Maka tau, 1929.30, 3165, Photographed by Richard Ng, digital, 08 Jan 2019, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Maka tau, 1929.30, 3165, Photographed by Richard Ng, digital, 08 Jan 2019, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Maka tau, 1929.30, 3165, Photographed by Richard Ng, digital, 08 Jan 2019, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Maka tau, 1929.30, 3165, Photographed by Richard Ng, digital, 08 Jan 2019, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Fighting stone

Artefact

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