A Selection of Oceanic Art / OC-010999-01
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OC-010999-01

Shark-tooth edged weapon "rere"
Gilbert Islands
Wood, shark teeth, fiber
Early 19th century
L: 21.5 in. (54.61 cm)
Short shark tooth edged weapons like the present example, were used to cut the tender and unprotected parts of antagonists in hand to hand combat. Koch mentions underarms and stomachs of antagonists as being particularly popular targets (1965:197).