Adzes & Other Tools
Old adze
Eilers p. 196

Three ancient clamshell adze heads hafted by Patricio in 1968.  The adze heads swivel so that a precise angle can be maintained in the cutting.
    

This is a close-up of the swivel lashing on the adze on the left.

Photographs by Barbara W. Black, 2000.

Three more ancient clamshell adze heads recovered from under people's houses on Tobi in 1968.   

Photograph by Barbara W. Black, 2000.

A stone brought to Tobi from Yap long ago for making fire. 

Photograph by Barbara W. Black, 2000.

Whalebone thatching needle made in 1967 from a beached whale carcass that smelled so bad everyone living downwind had to move across the island.

Photograph by Barbara W. Black, 2000.

Coconut fiber twine.   Different sizes of this cordage were used for everything from sewing to fishing to lashing to heavy cable work.  In the past, this cordage (considered at the time some of the best in the world) also was a very valuable trade good.

Photograph by Barbara W. Black, 2000

Cutting boards for tobacco.   These are pieces of hawksbill turtleshell which when everyone smoked twist tobacco were used to chop the tobacco into smokability.

Photograph by Barbara W. Black, 2000

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Updated: January 30, 2011