Papua New Guinea Bone Dagger ?
 

I am not very familiar with these, however, this one is even a little more unusual in the fact that it has a clay mask, feathers, hemp, and cowrie shells. It is concave in the back, so I definitely think it is bone. It is 19" long.
Any comments about the nature or significance(ancestor worship ?), of this item, would be appreciated.

I've never before seen, in person or in a picture, a bone dagger of this description.

Having become somewhat cynical regarding nondescript-seeming rarities, I've tended lately to shy away from such items.

That said, it is an interesting object. I eagerly await those with more experience in this area of endeavor.

It could be a dagger made of the bone of a kasuar bird like this one of the fotos
corrado26

Your nice example seems more functional, whereas mine seems ceremonial at best.
An interesting note; while searching the internet for more information on this item, a university study determined that the daggers made from human bones were twice as strong as those made from the Cassowary bird.

Bone density - that's why humans can't fly!



Well, one of the reasons.

I think it's an Itamul dagger but not very old and maybe made for selling purpose. :shrug:
See this interesting thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...at+bone+dagger

Regards,
Detlef

Thanks, Sajen, it was a very informative thread.