What always surprises me is a somewhat condescending attitude to non-industrial societies. Thus, the Asian nomads could not make swords and acquired them from the "settled" societies, tribal people made primitive weapons ( perhaps, with the exception of wood/horn carving, but, heck, they had all the time in the world!), etc, etc.
But then we look at this Mandau, made by head-hunting tribesmen, without any organized industrial base, and look at the quality of the blade and the intricacy of metalwork! They were professional metalwork artists!
Either we overestimate the complexity needed for such endeavors or grossly underestimate the technological abilities of small tribal masters ( perhaps, both).
My hat is off to the bladesmith who made this weapon! Nothing Passau or Toledo would be ashamed of.
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