Bontoc/Igorot "Fangkao" Spear

Robert · 19th May 2016, 04:17 AM

This spear (thanks to a very good friend) is the newest addition to my collection of Northern Philippines items. From the little information I have been able to gather this piece according to Stone's is called a "fangkao" which basically is a hinalung that has been mounted as a spear. The overall length is 59 inches with the sharpened section of the blade being 8 inches in length, 1-3/4 inches at its widest point and a socket 4-1/2 inches in length. There is some minor damage to the rattan banding where it extends over the metal of the socket onto the wooden shaft. I believe that these are the only Philippine spearheads that uses a socket instead of a tang in their construction. This is the only almost complete example (it is missing the butt spike) of this style of spear that I have ever seen outside of books. If any forum member happen to have an example of one of these spears in their own collection please post a photo of it here for comparison. The one photo below showing the complete spear is from the auction as all the full length photo's I had taken did not turn out well enough to post. As to why the spears head looks shiny in that one photo I would guess to be from bad lighting.

Any information or comments on this item would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
Robert

Ian · 20th May 2016, 01:37 PM

Very nice example, Robert, and it appears to have some age judging from the rattan bindings that show a nice patina. Congrats.

Ian

Robert · 20th May 2016, 07:24 PM

Ian, Thank you very much for your interest and opinion on the age of this piece. The patina on the bindings looks a bit washed in the photos and is even more evident when viewing it in person. Do to the fact that there are many different tribes in the Northern Philippines Cordilleras, do you know of any way of telling exactly which one this spear is actually from?

Best,
Robert

Ian · 20th May 2016, 09:21 PM

Robert:

I don't know how to tell which particular native group this may have come from. The rattan bindings appear generic and the hinalung shaped blade seems to be fairly widespread in several of the northern Luzon mountain areas. I would think Ifugao/Igorot would pretty much cover the groups who might have made this one. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Ian

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert

Ian, Thank you very much for your interest and opinion on the age of this piece. The patina on the bindings looks a bit washed in the photos and is even more evident when viewing it in person. Do to the fact that there are many different tribes in the Northern Philippines Cordilleras, do you know of any way of telling exactly which one this spear is actually from?

Best,
Robert

Nonoy Tan · 21st May 2016, 12:21 AM

Hi Robert,

The spear appears to be Ifugao. It is called "ludit" in the vernacular.

Best regards,
Nonoy

Robert · 22nd May 2016, 01:32 AM

Sorry that it has taken so long to make my reply on this thread, but things have been a total disaster here on the old homestead this weekend.

Ian, You have been most helpful in identifying this spear as for which group it might have originated from.

Nonoy, Thank you very much for your interest and for pinpointing the exact group that made this spear. It is great importance to me (and I am sure many others) to be able to not only identify by who a particular piece was made, but also knowing by what name it was called by them as well.

Right before I was to make my reply here I received an email from our good friend Lorenz. It was his response to one I had sent him earlier about this spear. In his answer (though he had not seen or been told what you had said) he is in total agreement with what has been posted. Here is his reply;

Hello Robert,
That's a very nice example. I have a friend (a PhD) who researched a lot about the subject. Based on the info I got from him the proper name of that spear is "ludít" (pronounced loo-DEET, that is, accent on the last syllable)
it is also sometimes called as "luchit" (loo-CHEAT) or "bangkaw" (bahng-COW)
All the above are Ifugao terms, and the Ifugaos are one of the largest amongst the northern Luzon mountain people called Igorots. That type is not a hunting spear; rather it's a battle spear. Its design is ancient; since time immemorial that has always been the shape of the Ifugaos' battle spear.
Another famous Igorot group, the Bontocs, also use this type of non-barbed spear but in the case of the Bontocs, this non-barbed spear is called a "fang-kao" per Jenks (an American anthropologist who wrote a book about the Bontocs in the early-1900s), the Bontocs' fang-kao is a spear used exclusively for killing pigs and carabaos (thus, the context must have been sacrificial/religious offerings).

Again I would like to thank all of you for all your interest and help in identifying this very nice old spear.

Best,
Robert

19th May 2016, 04:17 AM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Bontoc/Igorot "Fangkao" Spear This spear (thanks to a very good friend) is the newest addition to my collection of Northern Philippines items. From the little information I have been able to gather this piece according to Stone's is called a "fangkao" which basically is a hinalung that has been mounted as a spear. The overall length is 59 inches with the sharpened section of the blade being 8 inches in length, 1-3/4 inches at its widest point and a socket 4-1/2 inches in length. There is some minor damage to the rattan banding where it extends over the metal of the socket onto the wooden shaft. I believe that these are the only Philippine spearheads that uses a socket instead of a tang in their construction. This is the only almost complete example (it is missing the butt spike) of this style of spear that I have ever seen outside of books. If any forum member happen to have an example of one of these spears in their own collection please post a photo of it here for comparison. The one photo below showing the complete spear is from the auction as all the full length photo's I had taken did not turn out well enough to post. As to why the spears head looks shiny in that one photo I would guess to be from bad lighting. Any information or comments on this item would be greatly appreciated. Best, Robert Attached Images Last edited by Robert; 19th May 2016 at 04:52 AM.

20th May 2016, 01:37 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,031	Very nice example, Robert, and it appears to have some age judging from the rattan bindings that show a nice patina. Congrats. Ian

20th May 2016, 07:24 PM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Ian, Thank you very much for your interest and opinion on the age of this piece. The patina on the bindings looks a bit washed in the photos and is even more evident when viewing it in person. Do to the fact that there are many different tribes in the Northern Philippines Cordilleras, do you know of any way of telling exactly which one this spear is actually from? Best, Robert

21st May 2016, 12:21 AM	#5
Nonoy Tan Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 293	Hi Robert, The spear appears to be Ifugao. It is called "ludit" in the vernacular. Best regards, Nonoy

22nd May 2016, 01:32 AM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Sorry that it has taken so long to make my reply on this thread, but things have been a total disaster here on the old homestead this weekend. Ian, You have been most helpful in identifying this spear as for which group it might have originated from. Nonoy, Thank you very much for your interest and for pinpointing the exact group that made this spear. It is great importance to me (and I am sure many others) to be able to not only identify by who a particular piece was made, but also knowing by what name it was called by them as well. Right before I was to make my reply here I received an email from our good friend Lorenz. It was his response to one I had sent him earlier about this spear. In his answer (though he had not seen or been told what you had said) he is in total agreement with what has been posted. Here is his reply; Hello Robert, That's a very nice example. I have a friend (a PhD) who researched a lot about the subject. Based on the info I got from him the proper name of that spear is "ludít" (pronounced loo-DEET, that is, accent on the last syllable) it is also sometimes called as "luchit" (loo-CHEAT) or "bangkaw" (bahng-COW) All the above are Ifugao terms, and the Ifugaos are one of the largest amongst the northern Luzon mountain people called Igorots. That type is not a hunting spear; rather it's a battle spear. Its design is ancient; since time immemorial that has always been the shape of the Ifugaos' battle spear. Another famous Igorot group, the Bontocs, also use this type of non-barbed spear but in the case of the Bontocs, this non-barbed spear is called a "fang-kao" per Jenks (an American anthropologist who wrote a book about the Bontocs in the early-1900s), the Bontocs' fang-kao is a spear used exclusively for killing pigs and carabaos (thus, the context must have been sacrificial/religious offerings). Again I would like to thank all of you for all your interest and help in identifying this very nice old spear. Best, Robert