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Source Description
This object was lashed to a spear thrower, where it served as a thumb rest or grip. The imagery is suited to the use: a supernatural being throttles a human, turning its head to expose its throat to a knife the being holds in one hand. Thus, the scene captures the crucial moment of an offering likely intended to assure the benevolence of divine forces.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
294066
label
Thumb Rest of a Spear Thrower
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
294066
contentType
object
title
Thumb Rest of a Spear Thrower
description
This object was lashed to a spear thrower, where it served as a thumb rest or grip. The imagery is suited to the use: a supernatural being throttles a human, turning its head to expose its throat to a knife the being holds in one hand. Thus, the scene captures the crucial moment of an offering likely intended to assure the benevolence of divine forces.
date
600–1000
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60747098
genreSpecific
Tools and Equipment
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 7.1 x 2.1 cm (2 13/16 x 13/16 in.)
cul
Andes, Wari people
accession
2017.58
Source extras
tec
Bone
tombstone
Thumb Rest of a Spear Thrower, 600–1000. Andes, Wari people. Bone; overall: 7.1 x 2.1 cm (2 13/16 x 13/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund, 2017.58
collection
AA - Andes
didYouKnow
Spear throwers, also called <em>atlatls</em>, use leverage to propel a spear faster and farther.
citations
citation
Bergh, Susan E. “Acquisition Highlights: Pre-Columbian Art.” <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine </em>58, no. 2 (March/April 2018): 8-9.
page_number
Reproduced and Mentioned: P. 8
creditline
Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:52:26.867000
sourceId
294066
dept
Art of the Americas
coll
AA - Andes
med
Bone
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
374c8f7a78042e17