МАЭ № 2867-31

Throwing board

Kodiak Eskimos

first half of 19th century

wood, paint, ivory

length 49.3 cm, width 6.2 cm, thickness 2.5 cm

Throwing boards were used for throwing light harpoons while hunting sea animals and for throwing spears when hunting birds. They hollowed out a slot in the throwing board for the shaft of a harpoon with a bone stop on the end. The shaft of the harpoon was placed in the slot with its lower part stuck in the ivory stop. The hunter would use one hand to hold both the throwing board and the harpoon. Using only one hand was very important when hunting at sea. The hunter used his free hand to steer the boat so that the kayak would not be overturned by the waves. A harpoon thrown by hand would fly from 15 to 20 meters, but one thrown using a throwing board would go from 50 to 60 meters

Ethnography of America