144 SOME PREHISTORIC ARTEFACTS FROM NEW GUINEA 
Among the prehistoric carved stonework from New 
Guinea (1) and the adjacent islands, several other bird figures 
are known. 
(a) From Aikora River Goldfield, Papua (2), An elon- 
gated figure of a bird which forms the handle of a pestle ; the 
extended wings, stretched outwards and downwards, are 
similar to those of the Wahgi Valley bird, and the long curved 
neck and long single leg are circular in section. Found under 
10 feet of alluvial sand and clay. British Museum. 
(b) From New Ireland (3). A rather massive conven- 
bird, with folded wings, standing on a 
single central leg of circular section. 
It is said to have been used during 
sacred ceremonies of the Ingiet Society. 
National Museum, Melbourne. 
(c) From the Waitut River, Terri- 
tory of New Guinea (4, 5). A crude 
head and neck only. Australian 
Museum, Sydney. 
(d) From Papua, locality unknown. 
Fig. 2. A head with elongated neck, 
broken off at its lowest end. Made from 
volcanic rock, heavily patinated. The 
eyes are formed by raised bosses simi- 
lar in shape to the eyes on the axe 
from Bougainville described here- 
under. Australian Institute of Ana- 
tomy, Canberra. 
(e) From the Wahgi Valley (5). A mortar with four 
lateral projections, one of which is in the form of a bird’s 
head. Australian Museum, Sydney. 
(f) From the Wahgi Valley (5). A bowl, the outer sur- 
face carved in relief with bird-like figures. Australian 
Museum, Sydney. 
(g) From Bougainville Island. The carved birds’ heads 
on the axe described hereunder. 
Carved Stone Axe 
From Toiminapo Plantation, S.E. coast of Bougainville 
Island. Fig. 3 and Plate VI. 
On both top and bottom of the body of the axe there is a 
projection in the shape of the head and neck of a bird. 
Across each side of the axe is a line of six raised bosses, the 
end ones forming the bird’s eyes. The bosses which form the 
eyes are sub-cylindrical in form, and appear to have been 
shaped by grinding with a hollow cylindrical drill. An 
tionalized figure of a 
Inches 
Fig. 2. Stone Bird’s 
Head, Papua. 
