370 



in the same plane as the slit ; in other respects they resemble 

 each other perfectly. 



A bone-head from Scoresby Sund found by Ryder ^) may 

 perhaps also be placed in the same category as these two 

 specimens, but it should be noted that it has no lateral barb. 

 Inv. Amd. 18 and 19 (Fig. 9). These two heads of white 

 bone (or narwhal tusk) are of similar shape, 2I*5 and 19'5 cm in 

 length respectively, cylindrical, and tapering towards the ends, 

 with a very long bevel at the butt end. 



No. 18 (Fig. 9^) is a hollow bone; at the upper edge of 

 the bevelling is bored a hole which reaches up to the medullary 

 canal without piercing the bone right through; the medullary 

 canal, moreover, is seen not merely at the lower part of the 

 implement, almost throughout the whole length of the bevel, 

 but also at the thin end, where it emerges along one side of 

 the head as a very narrow elliptical aperture, stopped up with 

 a wedged-in piece of wood. 



No. 19 (Fig. 9^) is carved out of the hard substance of a 

 bone, the spongy layer of which is seen extending along one 

 side. This bone, too, has a transverse hole in the same place 

 as in the former, but here it runs right thorough, and its 

 mouth on the side opposite to the bevelling is widened out as 

 if to receive a knot. 



Both pieces are so well finished that the natural form of 

 the bone is quite disguised. The upper surface is carefully 

 polished. 



At first sight they look like weapon heads, but what kind of 

 weapon heads? They cannot have been detachable, loose, har- 

 poon heads belonging to the common sealing harpoons, or 

 agdligak harpoons ^), or to the somewhat heavier walrusing 

 harpoons^); against both these possibilities militates the position 



M Ryder 314, fig. 13 d. 



'-') Murdoch I, 212, fig. 197; Boas I, 494, fig. 429 a and b. 



8) Murdoch I, 224, fig. 214. 



