Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Nonoy Tan · 9th March 2013, 12:38 AM

It was four years ago when I started this thread. Since then more information has come to light and would like to share them here.

1. Historical records show that the usual name used for this weapon was "Aliwa."

2. These historical records, many of which are early dictionaries or compilation of words, were based on data gathered as early as ca. 1570-1699. There records show cognate words such as Aligua, Aliua, Alioa, Liga, Iwa, Iua, Ygua, Igua and Ligua.

3. The "Aliwa" and its cognates are found in Tagalog, Isneg, Apayao, Tinguian, Iloco, Zambal, Ibanag, Bontoc Igorot, Lepanto Igorot, Pampanga, Ifugao, and Kalinga. These linguistic groups are found in eastern, northern, and central Luzon.

4. “Aliwa” was not always an axe. In fact early accounts indicate that the Aliwa was a bolo, knife or dagger. It was only later that it became known as an axe. It was not until the around the late 18th century that the name “Aliwa” was applied to the axe. It is quite possible that the axe form of the “Aliwa” was not existent until this period mentioned for it was still in knife or bolo form.

The headhunter's axe as we know it, was a later development and not ancient. The tool used by headhunters was originally a bolo or knife-like. How the axe form came into being - historical records does not provide. However, the “Aliwa” (as a head-cutting tool) is limited to Luzon, despite the fact that headhunting was also prevalent in the Visayas and Mindanao. (The head-cutting tool used in the Visayas and Mindanao was not called “Aliwa” and was not an axe either – but that is a separate topic).

Incidentally, the beautiful "Kalinga/Tinguian axe" with long ferrule and handle could not have been used for lopping off heads. It is not strong enough in my view. When tested against pig neck, the wooden handle broke at the point closest to the metal ferrule. Unless, held by the metal ferrule (not by the wooden handle) it cannot possibly do heavy chopping work. This type of axe was likely an ornament or tool for ritual and cutting/slicing smaller objects.

9th March 2013, 12:38 AM	#90
Nonoy Tan Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 293	It was four years ago when I started this thread. Since then more information has come to light and would like to share them here. 1. Historical records show that the usual name used for this weapon was "Aliwa." 2. These historical records, many of which are early dictionaries or compilation of words, were based on data gathered as early as ca. 1570-1699. There records show cognate words such as Aligua, Aliua, Alioa, Liga, Iwa, Iua, Ygua, Igua and Ligua. 3. The "Aliwa" and its cognates are found in Tagalog, Isneg, Apayao, Tinguian, Iloco, Zambal, Ibanag, Bontoc Igorot, Lepanto Igorot, Pampanga, Ifugao, and Kalinga. These linguistic groups are found in eastern, northern, and central Luzon. 4. “Aliwa” was not always an axe. In fact early accounts indicate that the Aliwa was a bolo, knife or dagger. It was only later that it became known as an axe. It was not until the around the late 18th century that the name “Aliwa” was applied to the axe. It is quite possible that the axe form of the “Aliwa” was not existent until this period mentioned for it was still in knife or bolo form. The headhunter's axe as we know it, was a later development and not ancient. The tool used by headhunters was originally a bolo or knife-like. How the axe form came into being - historical records does not provide. However, the “Aliwa” (as a head-cutting tool) is limited to Luzon, despite the fact that headhunting was also prevalent in the Visayas and Mindanao. (The head-cutting tool used in the Visayas and Mindanao was not called “Aliwa” and was not an axe either – but that is a separate topic). Incidentally, the beautiful "Kalinga/Tinguian axe" with long ferrule and handle could not have been used for lopping off heads. It is not strong enough in my view. When tested against pig neck, the wooden handle broke at the point closest to the metal ferrule. Unless, held by the metal ferrule (not by the wooden handle) it cannot possibly do heavy chopping work. This type of axe was likely an ornament or tool for ritual and cutting/slicing smaller objects.