New Guinea Highlands. Ex-Leo Fleishmann coll, Sydney LF/L53.

In the distant past in the Highlands of New Guinea, stone club heads were used widely. At contact (1930s) the Baruya of the eastern Highlands continued to use stone clubs in warfare. However, in much of the Highlands region use of stone clubs in warfare was obsolete; perhaps the more efficient and deadly stone axes replaced them? But what occurred, these club heads became objects of magic, sometimes painted, and often use in fertility rituals or male or female spirit ceremonies.