Pendant, D55.375

Accession information states this is a chevroned pendant cut from a sperm whale tooth. Missing chip on one side of forehead. A secondary hole drilled centre rear of tooth lip replaced the original (situated near ear) which had worn through. Other original companion hole drilled centre side by ear. Two bug like eyes carved in koru design frame a small nose running to pointed chin with small mouth.Lower jaw under carved.through to natural cavity of tooth. One side of head has notchings framing face with a second line running from ear down shoulder to tooth end which is slightly cracked with a small flake missing. Five knobs run longitudinal from mouth to base with a second line of possibly three knobs run longitudinally fro notch line running out of koru on true right side of face. Rear of tooth uncarved with a natural polish.

Register entry:[refer also D55.375a]
"Chevroned" pendant. 4 ½’, long. Cut from a sperm whale tooth. Found with bones of a Maori, male, aged c.22 years, in a narrow cleft in a quartz face, 4 or 5 hundred yards from the Outram - Middlemarch road, 3 or 4 miles from the Taieri. Bones were lying in the open, and it was guessed they had formerly been hidden in a hole above, from which they had been displaced by an opossum. Pendant and bones were brought to O.M by Sergt. Fell, Dunedin Police; who had organized a search for a missing man. Pendant and bones were found by a party consisting of: Ross McDonald, Beauvis St., Outram, Leonard Doherty, Outram, Craig Peterson, B.N.Z Mosgiel, J. Staite, Mosgiel. Ross McDonald called 31.5.1955, and made over to the Otago Mus. His rights in the pendant. Telephone, Outram, 66.
See J.P.S. vol. 65 (1956) p.356

Locality the road between Middlemarch and Outram

Locality, 3 or 4 miles from the Taieri River

Objects found by a party consisting of R. McDonald, L.Doherty, C.Peterson and J.Staite Ross McDonald

Objects found by a party consisting of R. McDonald, L.Doherty, C.Peterson and J.Staite L Doherty

Objects found by a party consisting of R. McDonald, L.Doherty, C.Peterson and J.Staite C Peterson

Objects found by a party consisting of R. McDonald, L.Doherty, C.Peterson and J.Staite J Staite