‘ Weapons Throughout Time ’ exhibit is armed to the teeth

"Weapons Throughout Time," an exhibit showcasing 9,000 years in the history of weapons, is currently on display at the Cooper Gallery in Morrill Hall.

The exhibit showcases all manners of weaponry from throughout antiquity, including ancient instruments of warfare from the Great Plains, Japanese samurai swords known as katanas, spade-shaped knives from the Sudan, swords from the Gilbert Islands in the South Pacific called tebutjes, flintlock pistols from Arabia and Turkey, up to World War I-era automatic firearms.

While a few objects have been given to the museum by private donors, the majority of the artifacts are from the university's archaeological department, according to Priscilla Grew, director of the University of Nebraska State Museum.

"Almost all of the weapons we have on display are officially part of the university's anthropological research department, and many of them have been with the museum since the 1800s," Grew said. "While I'm not sure of the exact number of objects, there's certainly quite a few that we have either uncovered, collected or have had donated to us."

Not all of the weapons featured in the exhibit are necessarily tools of war. One display houses a ceremonial ax from Papua New Guinea, while another showcases a ceremonial sword from Thailand with a handle carved with figures of demons from Thai mythology.

Even though virtually every artifact on display was designed to kill, most can also be considered legitimate works of art. Swords sport ornately carved handles and etched blades, while firearms from the pre-World War I period flaunt exquisitely engraved barrels.

The oldest objects currently on display are a collection of Native American arrowheads and spearheads from the Great Plains region.

"The arrowheads and spear points are carved from stone and really look almost like works of art," Grew said.

Because most of the weapons found in "Weapons Throughout Time" are from the anthropology's department of archaeology, the exhibit is specific to the State Museum and will not travel to other museums.

"I've always been interested in old weapons, ancient warfare, that kind of thing," said Chance Solem-Pfeifer, freshman news-editorial major. "I love reading about Samurai, the Ancient Greeks, those kinds of guys. I especially like being able to see a lot of weapons they would've (been) used up close. This is my first time at this museum, and I must say I'm pretty impressed with the variety of artifacts they have."

The exhibit opened Oct. 23 and will run until Aug. 31, 2010.

The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays; and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults 19 and older, $3 for children 5-18, free for children 4 and younger, and $10 per family with up to two adults and children.

UNL staff, faculty and students are granted free admission with a valid NU ID.

"We don't think that many people know that their state history museum has all these kinds of artifacts," Grew said. "So we're hoping this interesting exhibit will bring in a lot of people who maybe wouldn't usually visit the museum."

ALEKZAYAS-DORCHAK@DAILYNEBRASKAN.com