[VANDOO]

HERE ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF ARMOR SAID TO BE FROM TORAJA. ONE WITH BONE PLATES ANOTHER WITH SEA BEANS. THIS SORT OF ARMOR WAS INVENTED IN PRE-CONTACT TIMES AND CAN BE FOUND OVER A WIDE AREA THE FIBER VESTS WERE PROBABLY FIRST DEVISED AND THEN IT WAS FOUND THAT ADDING SOMETHING HARD COULD MAKE THEM MORE EFFECTIVE AS WELL AS DECORATIVE. TAILSMAN WERE OFTEN ATTACHED AS WELL TO PROTECT AND BRING SUCESS IN BATTLE TROPHYS MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN ATTACHED IN THE PAST TO SHOW YOU WERE A GREAT WARRIOR (PERHAPS A BONE OR HAIR FROM AN ENEMY). I HAD A EXAMPLE OF THE OLD PLAIN FIBER ARMOR VEST FROM THE NEW GUINEA AREA AT TIMONIUM THIS YEAR. SOME OF THE MATERIALS USED WERE BONE, SEASHELL OFTEN THE ROUND END OF LARGE CONE SHELLS OR PLATES MADE OF OTHER LARGE SHELLS. TURTLE SHELL, WOOD OR COCONUT SHELL PLATES OR WHATEVER ELSE WOULD SERVE.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER FIELD WITH VERY LITTLE GOOD OLD INFORMATION AND FEW GOOD OLD PROVENANCED EXAMPLES. SO I WILL SAY MY VIEWS ARE ONLY THAT AND BASED ON MY LOGIC AND NOT ON ACTUAL REFRENCES.