Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ian · 18th May 2016, 05:18 PM

I believe that many of these readily identifiable modern examples are actually made in West Irian Jaya (now West Papua). This was the former Dutch part of Papua-New Guinea, and was claimed by Indonesia when the Dutch withdrew in the early 1960s. Before claiming the territory at that time, the western half of Papua-New Guinea (i.e., Dutch New Guinea) had not been part of Indonesia. This was a major land grab by the Indonesians.

The poor blades on these mandau, at best "village" quality, suggest low skills in iron working, consistent with the proposed origin in West Papua. I think you will find that many of the teeth on these examples come from pigs--not large enough for horses and wrong shape.

Ian.

18th May 2016, 05:18 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	I believe that many of these readily identifiable modern examples are actually made in West Irian Jaya (now West Papua). This was the former Dutch part of Papua-New Guinea, and was claimed by Indonesia when the Dutch withdrew in the early 1960s. Before claiming the territory at that time, the western half of Papua-New Guinea (i.e., Dutch New Guinea) had not been part of Indonesia. This was a major land grab by the Indonesians. The poor blades on these mandau, at best "village" quality, suggest low skills in iron working, consistent with the proposed origin in West Papua. I think you will find that many of the teeth on these examples come from pigs--not large enough for horses and wrong shape. Ian.