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Old 22nd April 2014, 08:09 PM   #3
LJ
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And of course some of the more complete sets of Kiribati coconut-fibre armour have a high, square, projection to protect the back of the head. I thought Edge-Partington might have illustrated the New Guinea rattan examples in his 'Album', but he didn't: I can't recall seeing any illustration of them.

Other places I looked at before 'landing' on Tanimbar were West Africa (there are two fairly well known cuirasses, one from Musgum and an iron one from northern Nigeria) and Nagaland. Both areas provide examples with raised neck-protectors. As a feature it must have been developed independently
several times.

Isn't it is a big question as to why there are so MANY examples of ethnographic arms and so FEW examples of ethnographic armour ?

Incidentally, the Pitt-Rivers Museum have a Tanimbar cuirass, which they bought in 1906 from Stevens auction house.
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