Knife

Museum number:
1-157713
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21010157713
Accession number:
Acc.2036
Description:
Obsidian skinning knife. Bifacially flaked. Waterworn. In buckskin wrapper 1 - 157714.
Donor:
David Wayne Peri
Collection place:
Bodega Bay, Sonoma County, California
Verbatim coll. place:
California; Northern California; Bodega Bay
Culture or time period:
Coast Miwok
Collector:
David Wayne Peri
Collection date:
ca. 1950
Materials:
Obsidian
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Knives (stone tools)
Function:
5.2 Magic: Objects Associated with Practices reflecting confidence in the ability to manipulate supernatural agencies
Accession date:
1965
Context of use:
Used to poison a bear doctor or cure bear doctor's victim.
Department:
Native California (archaeology and ethnology)
Dimensions:
length 16.5 centimeters
Comment:
Remarks: The blades are stored in fresh water where water is rippling i.e. moving fast so power can't leave specimen. Given to Tom Smith by rival female bear doctor after he cured her victim (she had mauled and then poisoned victim). Dr. Thomas from Lake County was hired to cure victim, but failed. Tom Smith called in, counteracted illness and she (bear doctor) had to give him part of her outfit to lessen her power. 1-157472-157500 and 1-157713-16 comprise outfit of Thomas Smith. Outfit was family heirloom. See accession envelope for additional information.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Knife, accession number 1-157713, described as Obsidian skinning knife. Bifacially flaked. Waterworn. In buckskin wrapper 1 - 157714.Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Knife, accession number 1-157713, described as Obsidian skinning knife. Bifacially flaked. Waterworn. In buckskin wrapper 1 - 157714.Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Knife, accession number 1-157713, described as Obsidian skinning knife. Bifacially flaked. Waterworn. In buckskin wrapper 1 - 157714.

Tools