trap;
捕獸機(Chinese)
- Museum number
- MAS.796
- Description
-
Animal trap consisting of a ring of fibre wrapped with a twisted rope. Sixteen wooden pointed sticks face inwards. For a full descriptions on how it was used see curator's comment.
- Production date
- 1stC BC
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 15 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Stein (1928 vol.I, addenda et corrigenda P. 421) cites a letter from H. Balfour, curator of the Pitt-Rivers Museum in Oxford. "The principle is this: The spiked wheel is laid over a hole in the ground and concealed. A noose is placed over the wheel, the loop of the noose lying over the ring of the wheel; the other end of the noose-cord being attached either to a tree, or to a log. An animal placing its foot upon the wheel causes the spike to give way, the leg of the beast sinking through into the hole in the ground. The spikes hold firmly upon the beast's leg, and in endeavouring to shake off the painful, spiky wheel, the noose (which is supported by the wheel) is caused to draw tight and so the beast is held fast - or has to trail a log along as it runs off. Thus the wheel is not in itself the trap, but it functions as an accessory in securing that the noose shall operate, the noose being the real trap."
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1917
- Acquisition notes
- The 1917-11-28 group (with MAS numbering) refers to objects from Stein's Second Central Asian Expedition, 1906-08. As the expedition was financed 3/ 5 by the Government of India and 2/5 by the British Museum, it was agreed that the finds from the expedition should be allocated in these proportions. All the finds were shipped to London for sorting, research and publication, and subsequent distribution. The distribution of the finds between London and India was determined by specialists, appointed by the Government of India (through the India Office, London) and the British Museum, who drew up lists of the objects for approval by both sides. The specialists included: Raphael Petrucci, under supervision of Dr E Denison Ross (nominated by India Office) and Laurence Binyon (British Museum) on paintings; Dr F W Thomas, Dr E Denison Ross (both nominated by India Office) and Dr L D Barnett (British Museum) on manuscripts and written documents; Dr E Denison Ross (nominated by India Office) and Laurence Binyon (British Museum) on archaeological/other finds. Although the lists were drawn up and approved in 1915, the Government of India asked the British Museum to look after the entire collection during the First World War, and those allocated to India were eventually shipped in 1919.
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- MAS.796
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: T.XV.a.i.009 (Stein no.)