The obsidian blade, pointed to either end, bearing tool marks, American Californian Yurok Klamath River people, 19th. Century. Note Obsidian blades such as this were used in ceremonial occasions to...
The obsidian blade, pointed to either end, bearing tool marks, American Californian Yurok Klamath River people, 19th. Century.
Note Obsidian blades such as this were used in ceremonial occasions to denote wealth and prestige. These were brandished in the hand whilst secured around the wrist with cloth or mounted onto the end of poles as spears during dances. Considered incredibly wealthy objects they were passed down the generations and often hidden by the owner, buried under the house or near-by in a specific location. In this way sometimes their locations were lost when the owner died or forgot the original location.