Harpoons and Travelers: Fuegian Ethnographic Collections and the recent Archaeological Record

BORRERO, L.A. Y F. BORELLA

Before Farming

Western Academic & Specialist Press Ltd

Lugar: LIVERPOOL; Año: 2010 vol. 1

1476-4253

The analysis of two ethnographic collections of whale bone instruments from Tierra del Fuego and Strait of Magallanes is presented. These collections are stored at the Museo Etnográfico ?J. A. Ambrosetti? [ME] of Buenos Aires and at the British Museum, London [BM]. In contrast with the evidence from secure archaeological contexts , in both ethnographic collections barbed harpoon heads not only constitute the most frequent instruments, but are also much larger on average compared with archaeological specimens. In this paper, we discuss the reasons behind these differences and offer an hypothesis to explain them. It was suggested (Scheinsohn 1990-1992) that these ethnographic instruments were no longer manufactured for their use as hunting weapons, but were produced for exchange with Europeans. It must be noted that some of the late archaeological bone remains of the region reveal metal tool marks. The efficiency of metal tools makes them attractive items for the natives. One way to obtain such tools was by exchange with barbed harpoons, which attracted the interest of passing European visitors and travellers. The production of harpoons probably increased as a result of the interaction with Europeans. Oversize and miniaturization of harpoons clearly point to a different function, not related to hunting. The use of metal tools probably facilitated and speeded the production of harpoons. There is abundant ethnographic information documenting the process of exchange between Europeans and Fuegians. Harpoons comprise the most notable instruments in these collections, and their numerical importance is probably a consequence of the interest of European travelers in acquiring examples as souvenirs.