Ice pick, from Government of Nunavut Collection, photo courtesy of Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Accession Number 990.073.575.

Ivory ice pick

This ivory ice pick is associated with the Thule / Historic Inuit culture. It was found at the Tungatsivvik site at Peterhead Inlet in Frobisher Bay by archaeologist Doug Stenton at a site designated Borden Number KkDo-3.

Evidence
This ivory ice pick is associated with the Thule / Historic Inuit culture. It was found at the Tungatsivvik site at Peterhead Inlet in Frobisher Bay by archaeologist Doug Stenton at a site designated Borden Number KkDo-3.

Perspective
This was a very handy tool which on occasion was also known to be used as a weapon when attacked by an animal at close hand.

Significance
These picks were used to chip ice, but also to separate and dislodge meat that was in a cache or to break up hard snow. These could have been blackened from heating or stained by oil from breaking up chunks of blubber to render it.