Australian Museum Journal Adzes and adze-like implements from eastern Australia
- Shortform:
- McCarthy, 1944, Rec. Aust. Mus. 21(5): 267–271
- Author(s):
- McCarthy, Frederick D.
- Year published:
- 1944
- Title:
- Adzes and adze-like implements from eastern Australia
- Serial title:
- Records of the Australian Museum
- Volume:
- 21
- Issue:
- 5
- Start page:
- 267
- End page:
- 271
- DOI:
- 10.3853/j.0067-1975.21.1944.542
- Language:
- English
- Plates:
- plate xvii
- Date published:
- 22 June 1944
- Cover date:
- 22 June 1944
- ISSN:
- 0067-1975
- CODEN:
- RAUMAJ
- Publisher:
- The Australian Museum
- Place published:
- Sydney, Australia
- Subjects:
- ANTHROPOLOGY; ABORIGINES: AUSTRALIAN
- Digitized:
- 03 September 2009
- Reference number:
- 542
- EndNote package:
- EndNote file
- Title page:
- Title page (120kb PDF)
- Complete work:
- Complete work (1018kb PDF)
Abstract
Occasional edge-ground adzes have been recorded from scattered localities in Australia, and their existence as a type has been referred to by the author (1939, 4-5, figs. 2 and 8; 1940b, 227, fig.), and Noone (1943,274-5, 279, figs. 10-12, 30-31). In this paper is given a description of the examples in the collection of the Australian Museum. The chief characteristic of the adze is the asymmetrical blade with its edge above or below the middle; the upper facet is usually rounded, and the lower facet varies from convex to concave and is often at a steep angle. Such implements are hafted, with the blade at a right angle to the haft. The body of the adze varies widely in shape and in Oceania embraces examples with round, lenticular, rectangular, trapezoid, or triangular section.