Unusual spear - Naga ?

[colin henshaw]

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...

[mross]

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.

[fearn]

Is the bamboo stuck on, or does it slide?

[colin henshaw]

Originally Posted by fearn

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.

[colin henshaw]

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