That is so interesting!
Begs the question, what does this 'flared' or 'spatulated' design element on scabbards represent, and which region did it originate? Years ago an archaeologist specializing in the Sudan told me this design had iconographic origins from ancient Meroe.
If that was the case, then how and why does it become significant in the Mande linguistic regions?
Not meaning to deviate from the original topic concerning classification, but these 'regional' characteristics do seem to have bearing.
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