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Te kawaruwaru

human history
  • Common Name
    Adornment
  • Other Name

    Shark rattle shell (English)

  • Description

    Te kawaruwaru. Shark rattle shell. This is a marine snail shell otherwise known as a helmet shell. It is bulbous in midsection. It has a flat base where the aperture opens. There is a small point followed by sutures that make up a flat series of spires as part of the whorl. The largest part of the whorls surface features a series of blunt points. Fine ridges make up the surface texture and is coloured in neutral brown and white.

    The flat opening of the aperture has a polished surface and a serrated lip. A series of ridges across the lip are coloured brown and the inside of the aperture is dark pink in colour. These particular shells are used to produce te kawaruwaru. Holes would be bored through their sides where te kora (coconut sennit cordage) is threaded. This rattle would be used in the water for luring sharks.

  • Place
    Beru/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati
  • Accession Number
    1936.295
  • Accession Date
    1936
  • Other Id

    24111.1 (ethnology)

    154 (Maude Collection)

  • Department

    Pacific

Te kawaruwaru; 1936.295; 24111.1, 154; Cultural Permissions… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

  • Te kawaruwaru; 1936.295; 24111.1, 154; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te kawaruwaru; 1936.295; 24111.1, 154; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te kawaruwaru; 1936.295; 24111.1, 154; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te kawaruwaru; 1936.295; 24111.1, 154; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te kawaruwaru; 1936.295; 24111.1, 154; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te kawaruwaru; 1936.295; 24111.1, 154; Cultural Permissions Apply

Artefact

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