Harpoon head, sheath, line

This bifurcated, closed socket, brass harpoon head has a ferrous metal end blade and a separate sealskin sheath that is strung on a braided sinew and de-haired sealskin harpoon line. These items were used by Stephen Angulalik and his family. He was a hunter, trapper and trader who lived at Perry River area and later moved to Cambridge Bay.

Evidence
This bifurcated, closed socket, brass harpoon head has a ferrous metal end blade and a separate sealskin sheath that is strung on a braided sinew and de-haired sealskin harpoon line. These items were used by Stephen Angulalik and his family. He was a hunter, trapper and trader who lived at Perry River area and later moved to Cambridge Bay.

Perspective
Harpoon technology was developed thousands of years ago and little has changed in design. It is a design perfectly suited to its purpose. The harpoon was the most significant weapon for coastal Inuit, especially those who did not have ready access to caribou or muskoxen. The harvesting of seals was a difficult and physically exacting occupation.

Significance
The harpoon was protected by a scrapped seal skin sheath (manuqquut). The seal skin is very tough. The thong at the end of the sheath would have been pulled tight between the prongs of the harpoon head (sakku) to hold it in place. As well the rope on the harpoon is seal skin. You can see the teeth marks of the user who would have chewed the lines to soften them before use. The loop was placed around the hand of a hunter so that the harpoon, when thrust, would not be lost.