Origin of the Kalinga Axe

migueldiaz · 29th December 2008, 01:20 AM

Pics showing the "context" within which headhunting took place:

migueldiaz · 29th December 2008, 01:25 AM

Finally, some Tingguian activities pics (and here's a recent news article on the current status of the Tingguians).

Tim Simmons · 29th December 2008, 09:57 AM

I move away from weapons but would just like to say that these pictures and others, show these people had/have a fasinating and beautiful sculptural sence in building and landscaping with natural stone forms.

migueldiaz · 31st December 2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

I move away from weapons but would just like to say that these pictures and others, show these people had/have a fasinating and beautiful sculptural sence in building and landscaping with natural stone forms.

Yes, those 2,000-year old Igorot rice terraces are a sight to behold (it's been declared a Unesco World Heritage site by they way).

I've been to Bali, Indonesia once and they too have hillside rice terraces in there. But the scale is much smaller compared to the ones made by the Igorots.

On the head axes, I've been fooling around with two recently acquired Kalinga head axes. After etching, one of them exhibited a hardened edge, along the chiseled cutting edge (see pics).

I understand though that there's a wide variation on how these axes are made. So, this hardened edge feature can be absent in other authentic samples.

migueldiaz · 8th April 2009, 04:35 AM

Radleigh's Head Axe... A good one? revived my interest on the origin of the northern Luzon head-axe.

From Fay-Cooper Cole's 1922 book on the Tinguians [aka Itnegs], an upland tribe which shares the Cordillera mountain range with the Igorots:

While the axe is primarily a weapon, its use is by no means confined to warfare. It is used in house and fence building, in cutting up game and forest products, and in many other ways. Fig. 8 [below] shows three types of head-axes, the first two, the Tinguian-Kalinga axe; third, the Igorot; fourth, the Apayao. There is a noticeable difference between the slender blades of the first group and the short, thick blade of the Igorot, yet they are of the same general type. The Apayao weapon, on the other hand, presents a radical difference in form. Despite these variations, the axes of these three tribes present an interesting problem. So far as it known, these are the only tribes in the Philippines which make use of a head-axe, and it is believed that no similar weapon is found in the Malayan Islands. However, blades of striking resemblance do occur among the Naga of Assam [10]. It is possible that the weapons of these far separated regions may hark back to a common source, from which they received their instruction in iron working.

xxx

[10] Egerton, Handbook of Indian Arms (Wm. Allen and Co., London, 1880), p. 84; Shakespear, History of Upper Assam, Burma and Northeastern Frontier (MacMillan, London, 1914), p. 197, illustration.

Clearly, the book cited is an old one (1922). On the other hand, so far it still looks like that the northern Luzon head-axe is an original form, endemic strictly to northern Luzon ...

Unless evidence to the contrary is uncovered ...

migueldiaz · 8th April 2009, 04:54 AM

Reviewing this portion of Cole's 1922 book on the Tinguians:

So far as it known, these [Tinguians, Igorots, & Apayaos] are the only tribes in the Philippines which make use of a head-axe, and it is believed that no similar weapon is found in the Malayan Islands. However, blades of striking resemblance do occur among the Naga of Assam [10].

xxx

[10] Egerton, Handbook of Indian Arms (Wm. Allen and Co., London, 1880), p. 84; Shakespear, History of Upper Assam, Burma and Northeastern Frontier (MacMillan, London, 1914), p. 197, illustration.

I wanted to find out what a Naga-Assam [headhunter's] axe looks like. Photo 1 and photo 2 below are both from Oriental Arms.

There appears to be some similarity all right, but not with the traditional crescent-shaped form of the northern Luzon head-axe.

As to the probable link between the two cultures, it appears to be there indeed. I found this pertinent excerpt, from a recent research work:

Colonel L.W. Shakespear suggests that the Naga fancy for marine shells may point to a bygone home on the sea (History of Upper Assam, p.197). In any case, the Nagas have very strong cultural affinities with the natives of the Asiatic Islands, notably Borneo, and the Philippine Islands, and perhaps physical affinities with some of them (Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, vol. xliv, p.57)”.

What's the conclusion? Well so far, it still points to the theory that the northern Luzon head axe is a unique and endemic weapon-tool, with no other parallels ... at least so far

Nonoy Tan · 8th April 2009, 04:26 PM

I agree. The headaxe of Northern Luzon is an endemic development.

The tribes of Northeast India and Northern Luzon have remarkably similar ecologies and material culture. On the other hand, the social organizations are very different. Also, I also doubt that the headaxe of Northern Luzon and the axe of Northeastern India had come from a common origin, because there is yet no indicative proof. This is not to say, however that both cultures had not adapted certain cultural traits from a common influence or source (directly or indirectly). Talismanic symbol in blades of India is also found in some blades of Northern Luzon (Ilongot and Agta), and Southern Philippines (so called "moro" blades).

Meanwhile, here is a photo of a headaxe with a centipede design – in relation to the thread:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6818

29th December 2008, 01:20 AM	#1
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Pics showing the "context" within which headhunting took place: Attached Images

29th December 2008, 01:25 AM	#2
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Finally, some Tingguian activities pics (and here's a recent news article on the current status of the Tingguians). Attached Images

8th April 2009, 04:35 AM	#5
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Radleigh's Head Axe... A good one? revived my interest on the origin of the northern Luzon head-axe. From Fay-Cooper Cole's 1922 book on the Tinguians [aka Itnegs], an upland tribe which shares the Cordillera mountain range with the Igorots: While the axe is primarily a weapon, its use is by no means confined to warfare. It is used in house and fence building, in cutting up game and forest products, and in many other ways. Fig. 8 [below] shows three types of head-axes, the first two, the Tinguian-Kalinga axe; third, the Igorot; fourth, the Apayao. There is a noticeable difference between the slender blades of the first group and the short, thick blade of the Igorot, yet they are of the same general type. The Apayao weapon, on the other hand, presents a radical difference in form. Despite these variations, the axes of these three tribes present an interesting problem. So far as it known, these are the only tribes in the Philippines which make use of a head-axe, and it is believed that no similar weapon is found in the Malayan Islands. However, blades of striking resemblance do occur among the Naga of Assam [10]. It is possible that the weapons of these far separated regions may hark back to a common source, from which they received their instruction in iron working. xxx [10] Egerton, Handbook of Indian Arms (Wm. Allen and Co., London, 1880), p. 84; Shakespear, History of Upper Assam, Burma and Northeastern Frontier (MacMillan, London, 1914), p. 197, illustration. Clearly, the book cited is an old one (1922). On the other hand, so far it still looks like that the northern Luzon head-axe is an original form, endemic strictly to northern Luzon ... Unless evidence to the contrary is uncovered ... Attached Images

8th April 2009, 04:54 AM	#6
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Reviewing this portion of Cole's 1922 book on the Tinguians: So far as it known, these [Tinguians, Igorots, & Apayaos] are the only tribes in the Philippines which make use of a head-axe, and it is believed that no similar weapon is found in the Malayan Islands. However, blades of striking resemblance do occur among the Naga of Assam [10]. xxx [10] Egerton, Handbook of Indian Arms (Wm. Allen and Co., London, 1880), p. 84; Shakespear, History of Upper Assam, Burma and Northeastern Frontier (MacMillan, London, 1914), p. 197, illustration. I wanted to find out what a Naga-Assam [headhunter's] axe looks like. Photo 1 and photo 2 below are both from Oriental Arms. There appears to be some similarity all right, but not with the traditional crescent-shaped form of the northern Luzon head-axe. As to the probable link between the two cultures, it appears to be there indeed. I found this pertinent excerpt, from a recent research work: Colonel L.W. Shakespear suggests that the Naga fancy for marine shells may point to a bygone home on the sea (History of Upper Assam, p.197). In any case, the Nagas have very strong cultural affinities with the natives of the Asiatic Islands, notably Borneo, and the Philippine Islands, and perhaps physical affinities with some of them (Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, vol. xliv, p.57)”. What's the conclusion? Well so far, it still points to the theory that the northern Luzon head axe is a unique and endemic weapon-tool, with no other parallels ... at least so far Attached Images

8th April 2009, 04:26 PM	#7
Nonoy Tan Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 293	I agree. The headaxe of Northern Luzon is an endemic development. The tribes of Northeast India and Northern Luzon have remarkably similar ecologies and material culture. On the other hand, the social organizations are very different. Also, I also doubt that the headaxe of Northern Luzon and the axe of Northeastern India had come from a common origin, because there is yet no indicative proof. This is not to say, however that both cultures had not adapted certain cultural traits from a common influence or source (directly or indirectly). Talismanic symbol in blades of India is also found in some blades of Northern Luzon (Ilongot and Agta), and Southern Philippines (so called "moro" blades). Meanwhile, here is a photo of a headaxe with a centipede design – in relation to the thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6818 Attached Images

29th December 2008, 09:57 AM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	I move away from weapons but would just like to say that these pictures and others, show these people had/have a fasinating and beautiful sculptural sence in building and landscaping with natural stone forms.