thamul marda ironwood spear head

Thamul marda is commonly known as a shovel nose or shovel spear, the tips are made from ironwood. Ironwood is a highly prized hardwood whose beauty belies it highly toxic timber. Thamul marda were fighting and hunting spears, specifically designed for killing animals or enemies. After occupation the spear tips were often made from metal (taken from 44 gallon drum lids) or glass (taken from the base of bottles) glass and were equally deadly. These spears were highly prized and traded throughout the region and into Western Australia