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Arrow
Arrow
Image © Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Arrow

Dateearly 1900s
Mediumiron and wood
Dimensions49 cm (19 5/16 in.), less than 1 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.392.2
DescriptionSecond of 4 arrows. See 2014.392.1 for basic information. This one has lozenge-shaped blades with pair of barbs at socket & lightly cut with zig-zag decoration at shaft ends.
Label TextArchery was one of several hunting methods employed by Central African hunter-gatherer communities. These iron-tipped arrows were probably used for hunting ground-based animals, rather than tree-dwelling ones. Iron was valuable, and arrows shot into trees would have been more difficult to recover. The iron barbs made it easier for the arrow to lodge firmly in the prey.ProvenanceCollection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
On View
Not on view
Arrow
Congo Region, Central African
early 1900s
Arrow
Congo Region, Central African
early 1900s
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Congo Region, Central African
late 1800s
Arrow
Congo Region, Central African
early 1900s
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Congo Region, Central African
late 1800s-early 1900s
Kondo (sickle-sword)
Congo Region, Central African
late 1800s–early 1900s
Mambeli (short sword)
Congo Region, Central African
early 1900s
Conservation Status: After Treatment
Congo Region, Central African
late 1800s
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Congo Region, Central African
early 1900s
Ngulu (ceremonial sword)
Congo Region, Central African
early 1900s
Musele ("bird-headed" ceremonial knife)
Congo Region, Central African
late 1800s or early 1900s
Ikakalaka (short sword)
Congo Region, Central African
late 1800s-early 1900s