Pisuwe | |
Origin: | New Guinea |
Type: | Dagger |
Is Bladed: | Yes |
Used By: | Asmat people |
Length: | c. 13.25inches |
Blade Type: | Spike |
Hilt Type: | Human femur or Cassowary bone |
Pisuwe is a dagger from the island of New Guinea. Ndam pisuwe[1] or Ndam emak pisuwe are those that are made with human femur bone and Pi pisuwe are for those that are made with Cassowary bone.[2] Prior to the colonization of the Dutch in the 1950s, these daggers are carried by the Asmat people[1] and they are used only in ritual killings.[2] These daggers are usually embellished with Cassowary feathers at the pommel and decorated with carved in artworks depicting humans and animals.[1] Asmat men would wear this dagger as part of their traditional attire during customary ceremonies by girding it on the side of their waist.[3]