Hi Gavin,
I have never seen so relatively well preserved relics of handle made of organic material and cca 3600 years old, before. And it is interesting to see fashion of handles of that time and place.
Iain and Ed, thank you for sharing the photos, too.
As far as carrying short swords, my observation from Nigeria a few years ago was, that Fulani herdsmen always used to carry modern machete made of simple flat steel, despite the fact, that it was possible to find not very old, but also not very new Hausa daggers and Takoubas and weapons with "Tebu pommels" in nearest "touristic" areas (e.g.hotel shops). Nevertheless this modern machtes usually were accomodated in nice sheaths made of fine and nicely toolled leather. Occasionally the wooden handle was wrapped with rubber (probably from tube). Also some another local people used to wear this weapon - but to my surprise under the bubu (kaftan). Now I am sorry that I did not bring one - I considered it ordinary that time .... Such weapon was not as heavy as "normal sword" would be, I think, and still - it was hefty. Frankly, I did not see villagers to wear any other weapon (except of festival occassions).
Regards,
Martin
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