Part of set of 4 bow and arrow-making tools on plaited sinew. Flat ivory rod with ridge on opposite faces at the two ends. All 4 tools are drilled in the center and have an incised line on half of the top and bottom surface. Sinew twisters are for twisting the strands of the sinew backing after it has been put on the bow into the cables.
Donor:
Phoebe Apperson Hearst
Collection place:
Lower Yukon, Yukon, Yukon-Koyukuk Borough
Verbatim coll. place:
Alaska; Lower Yukon
Culture or time period:
Alaskan Eskimo
Collector:
Charles L. Hall
Collection date:
ca. 1895
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Plaited weaving
Accession date:
August 12, 1902
Context of use:
Marlin spikes are used in putting on the backing of a bow to raise parts of the cord when an end is to be passed under and in tucking in the ends in finished off a whipping; sinew twisters are for twisting the strands of the sinew backing after it has
Department:
Native US and Canada (except California)
Dimensions:
length 12.6 centimeters
Comment:
Continued from context of use: "... which gives the cable a half turn of twist. This brings the twister against the bow, so that the twisting can be carried no further in this direction, and if the tool were to be removed for a fresh start the strands would have to be held or fastened in some way, making the process a slow one. Instead, the tool is slid back between the strands till the other end comes where the first was, so that the hook at this end catches the strad, and the workman can five to the calve another half turn of twist. This is continued until the cable is sufficiently twisted, the tool sliding vack and forth like the handle of a vise. The tools are used in pairs, one being inserted in each cable. At the present time [1881-1883] these tools are seldom used for bow making, since the sinew-backed bow is so nearly obsolete, but are employed in playing a game of the nature of pitch-penny. Note: no feather setter in this set of tools." Context of use: cf. Murdoch, PT. BARROW ESKIMO, pp. 291-94.