WHEN YOU
LOOK
Western Bluebird
Long Knife
Culture and Colonization
When you look at this long knife, you see exploitation.
The long knife stands as a testament to the beauty of Papua New Guinea and its people; however, it also provides a small sample of the rampant colonialism that has ravaged cultures. This specific specimen is from the islands of Papua New Guinea, forged in roughly the late 19th century. It is a metal blade with a wooden handle and sheath, covered in New Guinean-style embellishments. Carvings decorate the entire knife, including the blade, with beads, fur, and animal teeth attached to the sheath.
Not much is known about the history of this long knife, other than its date and country of origin. Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse nations worldwide, yet it remains one of the least understood internationally, with much of its history unclear and many of its hundreds of tribes uncontacted. It is difficult to uncover the exact culture to which the knife belonged, let alone its precise purpose, made all the more difficult by the European influences clearly present. The knife is an amalgamation of Papua New Guinean and European styles and decoration - a unique artifact that reflects the colonialism present at the time.
Papua New Guinea was colonized in earnest beginning in the 19th century, exactly at the same time the long knife was forged. As with many nations that fell victim to colonization, Papua New Guinea suffered greatly under European rule. European influence overtook New Guinean culture, a fact reflected in the long knife - most traditional weaponry is made of bone with no sheath, whereas the long knife is made of metal with a rather intricate sheath. New Guinean culture still shines through in the carvings and other decorations, however, resembling the determination of Papua New Guineans to keep their culture alive.
An illustration of Papua New Guinea's annexation by Britain in 1884.
We may never know how exactly this specific artifact made its way from an island in southeast Asia to a small town in Idaho. It was most likely taken by Europeans across continents, passing through various collectors until finally reaching its resting place here in Caldwell, a similar story to many artifacts across the United States and Europe. The long knife’s journey may be shrouded in mystery, but what we know of Papua New Guinea’s culture and colonialism helps us to understand the value it now holds as a representative of such a history.