著者

野口 泰弥 近藤 祉秋

出版者

北海道立北方民族博物館

雑誌

北海道立北方民族博物館研究紀要 (ISSN:09183159)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.26, pp.1-30, 2017

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Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples (thereafter, HMNP) has so far collected two copper knives with a Y-shaped handle, which are attributed to Athabascan/ Dene cultures. In this paper, we compare them with similar items housed in other museums and examine the distribution and usage of such knives. The materials we use in our analysis include historical records, drawings and photographs during the period between the end of l8th centu1y and early 20th century. We point out the possibility that the Hare Indian may have used knives with a Y-shaped handle. We also discuss such knives as prestige goods in addition to their practical advantage as a hunting implement. Researchers of indigenous North American metallurgy have already suggested that both practicality and prestige were attributed to Athabascan copper artifacts in general until the former half of the 20th century. The prior studies tend to focus on copper as trade items when they discuss prestige of such materials. In this paper, we argue that Athabascan copper knives can be considered as practical-yet・prestigious goods not only because copper was considered precious trade items but also because it enabled people to hunt grizzly bears and other potentially dangerous animals. In Athabascan societies, where hunting and fishing are primary modes of subsistence, traditional spear hunting of grizzly bears used to bring a fame to successful hunters, and it was the Y-shaped handle of Athabascan copper knives that ensured the bear hunters safety. In the last chapter, we analyze one of the knives housed in HMNP to shed light on its uniqueness among other Athabascan knives.