Unusual spear - Naga ?
 

Hi there

Here is a strange spear I acquired recently, might well be Naga (North East India/Burma). Does anyone have an idea as to its purpose - ceremonial, religious, fishing etc ?? What could the bamboo attachment be for ?

Thanks in advance...

I would venture a guess and say fishing. It does bear a passing (very passing) resembelence to a eel spear. Though based on construction it could be a harpoon. Since these two are opposites I'm just giving a SWAG.

Is the bamboo stuck on, or does it slide?

It can be moved a bit, but this could be just because the bamboo has an age split in one place. Also there is a sort of thin sleeve underneath which looks like it has been there a long time. Difficult to say whether the bamboo was originally meant to be fixed or to slide.

Thanks for the replies so far.... any more ideas, anything comparable elsewhere in South-East Asia ?