Ethno Weapons World Map

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Edster

Open idea to the Forum:

What do you all think about developing an interactive world map that shows where and what ethnographic weapons are still in common use today? It would exclude cultural relics or museum pieces but only include weapons that continue today to play a active cultural role in the parent society as the jambiya (dress use) and dancing swords in Oman or the kaskara in Sudan as a wedding symbol and no doubt as an active weapon in parts of the Butana or the Sudan-Ethiopian borderlands. Bows and arrows are still active in Papua New Guinea, although the regular machette or bush knife has the chief role as tool and weapon, but guns are creeping into the Highlands. Puukas still enjoy field use in Finland. My personal knowledge base is limited, but there are wide array of active weapons-ethnic groups observed in several recent posts.

Perhaps members could submit ethnic groups, their geographical range and photographs of the weapons still in common use along with commentary. This info would then be managed and placed on a map by someone with those graphics and database skills.

What do we think?

Regards,
Ed

Salaams Ed, This is an interesting idea.I wonder how detailed it needs to be. I can get down to regional info but separate tribal groupings are blurred in reference to artefacts. We would be talking about Northern Oman, Central Oman, Southern Oman rather than specific tribes... with perhaps some research on the Bedouin periphery... Al Murrah, Rashid, and so on. Its worth doing as an ongoing project to start with. Certainly would be great to have a press button map indicator so people can see where its all from. As a matter of course I think it would be a good idea to open each discussion with a map of the region (where possible and where practical) so that Forum have a good idea on the ground plan..I think this is a good idea in the case of the bigger discussions..It may also be an idea to add in retrospect at the front of a discussion so to enhance its quality.
Maps are done very effectively by Dom and others on the Flyssa situation. I suppose to that end I can include an ethnographic map of Oman..just as an example.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[DaveA]

I strongly endorse this idea. At the very least, including relevant maps in threads when available. An interactive map could be made using Google maps or Google Earth. I have thought of starting such a project for my own research, but the idea of making it a community effort and open to contributions is very appealing. I'm not skilled enough (yet) to say how such a thing could be done, but I will investigate when i have time and advise the forum if there is interest.

[Edster]

Ibrahiim and Dave,

Thanks for your enthusiastic support of the idea. However, I'm a little disappointed that it didn't get more early traction. I'm sure there other visual/spacial thinkers out there. Never mind. Not to worry. We can just get out our atlas, colored pencils and note cards, and begin to create data in a manual format. Once we get a substantial collection we can enter the data into an electronic format.

The more I think of it there should be two layers. One for "in current use"(mainly in the fringes of post-colonial states) and indeed a much larger one that includes "historical use" of items that are largely cultural relics that are of central interest to the Forum including we three.

Geopolitical theory and the Westphalian notion that all areas of the globe should be within the boundaries and subject to the sovereignty of a nation state can help show us where ethnographic weapons are still in use. World maps and national boundaries were drawn on this basis largely during the 18th/19th centuries mostly by Europeans. Fringe areas (and their ethnic groups) of many nations have not always / never been really under the control of the associated central government. Northern Mali, much of central Africa, parts of the Philipines, Afghanistan, the Afar region of Eritrea / Ethiopia, just to name a few, cling to traditional values and weapons and have managed to stay out of the "mainstream". Issues were / are addressed inter-ethnically without the intervention of a national army.

Anyway, lets get started, work at a pace that suits us and check back from time to time via the forum or PM.

Best regards,
Ed

[ariel]

All Third World countries are quite uniform in their choice of ethnic weapon: AK-47
Kinda simplifies your mapping task, doesn't it? :-)

[Edster]

Astute if somewhat post-modern observation. Well played. :-)

[VANDOO]

THERE ARE VERY FEW PLACES IN OUR WORLD TODAY WHERE THE OLD FORMS OF ETHINOGRAPHIC WEAPONS ARE STILL USED AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED. IN TODAYS WORLD WHERE THEY ARE USED IS FOR CEREMONIES, SPECIAL FESTIVALS, PARADES, REINACTMENTS AND AT TIMONIUM. JUST KIDDING ABOUT TIMONIUM.
AN INDEX OF MAPS OF THE OLD DAYS AND OF THE TRIBAL TERRITORIES AND THE OLD FORMS OF WEAPONS WOULD INDEED BE A VALUABLE REFRENCE. I REMEMBER SEEING SEVERAL MAPS OF BORNEO AND THE PHILIPPINES WITH SUCH INFORMATION IN SOME OLD POSTS SO THERE IS A STARTING POINT ALREADY PRESENT IN THE FORUM. GATHERING IT TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE WOULD MAKE IT MUCH EASIER TO ACCESS FOR A REFRENCE. GOOD IDEA GO FOR IT!

[Lee]

Well, there has always been an intention to build such maps for the static site and I would welcome the help if people want to do the research to achieve this.