Matsés Spear from Peru

[Narrow Way Knapper]

This Matsés spear has been hanging on my grandparents wall for as long as I can remember. The spear is made of a black palm wood. The butt end of the spear was typically used for hunting peccary and could pin the animal to the ground. The broad head of the spear is of one piece with the shaft and would have been used for war/raiding other villages. My dad mentioned that the Matsés used the longest arrows and spears that he had seen in Peru. Their name means “Cat people” because they would stick long pieces of bamboo in their noses to give them the appearance of having cat whiskers.

[Narrow Way Knapper]

For some reason I couldn’t figure out how to make the picture larger. Oh, there we go!

[Narrow Way Knapper]

Here’s an article that talks about the first missionary to make contact with the Matsés people: http://www.amazon-indians.org/03-mis...et-fields.html

[Ron Kelley]

A very brave Lady!

[Ron Kelley]

Awesome Spear Caleb! Can you imagine the time that would go into making a spear like that?!! WOW

[Narrow Way Knapper]

There are several types of palms that have the black palm wood and they all have lots of long, sharp thorns on their trunks. So, just getting past the thorns would have taken a while. 😬

[JEBMs]

That is one wicked looking sticker.