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DISPLAY- EXCHANGE STONES
DANI CULTURE
IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA
ISLAND OF NEW GUINEA
EUROPEAN CONTACT
PAGE 2 OF 4 PAGES
COPYRIGHT JANUARY 31, 2004 PETER A. BOSTROM
Village mountain scene in Irian Jaya, Indonesia.
PICTURE CREDIT AND COPYRIGHT, AL KONDER & SANDY DONNELLY
THATCHED ROOF HUTS
CENTRAL IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA ON THE ISLAND OF NEW GUINEA

     Some stone tools are still being used in New Guinea. People living in the more isolated areas still maintain some of that technology. In contrast, most of the worlds anciently hafted and decorated stone artifacts are no longer intact. Stone spear points, arrow points, knives, scrapers, adzes, axes, etc. have lost their handles, shafts and decorations. Much of what is known about hafted stone artifacts and ceremonial objects has come from scientists studying cultures who are still using them. People living in all of the Americas, Australia and many widely scattered Pacific islands were still making and using stone tools and ceremonial objects when the Europeans arrived.

Group of display-exchange stones and one painted axe blade.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
DECORATED DISPLAY-EXCHANGE STONES
AND ONE SMALL PAINTED AXE BLADE
DANI CULTURE
IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA
PETE BOSTROM COLLECTION

     This picture shows a group of display-exchange stones and one small painted axe blade from the Dani tribal region of Irian Jaya. All of these stones were probably once used in various types of public ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. They may also have been used as stone currency to purchase such things as pigs. A very large stone is estimated to be valued as much as a large pig and a medium sized stone may be worth a medium sized pig (1999: Hampton, pp. 113-114).
    Stones used in various types of ceremonies and as currency are sometimes decorated with a wide variety of items such as pieces of fur, feathers, boar tusks, pig tails, orchid fiber cording, flattened reeds and fiber strings. Some examples are also painted. The display-exchange stones in this picture are decorated with the more common "skirts." "Skirts" are a female motif but according to the Dani people, there are no male or female stones, just stones.

    On the island of New Guinea, much of the weaponry, food processing tools and ceremonial objects were made of wood. These were in the form of such things as bows and arrows, clubs, spears, spear throwers, fire starters, masks, food hooks, statues, etc. The most durable and long lasting objects were made of stone. The majority of these artifacts include adzes, axes, chisels, knives, portable grinding slabs, hand-held grinding stones, hammerstones and display- exchange stones.

Decorated display-exchange stone from New Guinea.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
DECORATED DISPLAY-EXCHANGE STONE
DANI CULTURE
IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA
PETE BOSTROM COLLECTION

    This display-exchange stone was collected sometime in the 1950's. It was originally in a collection in Java. This example is decorated with a single wrapping of orchid fiber cording that represents a miniature wrap around wedding skirt (jogal). Although the picture doesn't show it, the color of the stone is actually dark green and black. The surface has been well smoothed on both sides and the edges. This display-exchange stone measures 19 3/8 inches (48.7 cm) long, 5 5/16 inches (13.5 cm) wide and 1/2 inch (1.2 cm) thick. This display-exchange stone might have been worth one medium sized pig (1999: Hampton, pp. 113-114).

    The Dani culture in Irian Jaya has been studied by anthropologists for many years. A unique phenomenon in this area is the use of display-exchange stones. Hampton reports in his book "Cultures of Stone" that display-exchange stones could be used as profane stones or selected by individuals to be made into sacred stones. The profane use means that these stones were used in public ceremonies such as funerals and weddings and given away to deserving people. For example, someone who provided pigs for a funeral would probably receive one or more exchange stones. On the other hand, sacred stones are selected by individuals. They are cared for by keeping them in special storage areas (ganekhe cabinet) out of sight of the public. They are maintained by three or more men in the sacred house (ganekhe house). These men perform rituals that empower the stones to maintain a connection with and harness the power of the unseen supernatural world of ghosts and spirits.

Display-exchange stone from western Papua New Guinea.
 DISPLAY-EXCHANGE STONE
DANI CULTURE
IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA
PETE BOSTROM COLLECTION

        This display-exchange stone was collected by a geologist sometime in the late 1960's in western Papua New Guinea. This example has no decoration but it's large enough that it may once have had a "skirt." Although the picture doesn't show it, the color of the stone is actually a nice shade of green. The entire surface has been polished very smooth and the edge on the widest end is sharp. This display-exchange stone measures 20 1/8 inches (51.1 cm) long, 4 1/8 inches (10.4 cm) wide and 9/16 inch (1.4 cm) thick.

     A great deal of energy is expended by the Dani in order to keep their ancestral ghosts and spirits in order. Their goal is to keep the malevolent ghosts out of the houses, living compounds, potato fields, water supplies and other areas. Ghosts are placated by thoughtful deeds and constant sacrificial rituals. "The logic of their (Dani) existence rests on the premise that all happenings are the result of both human and ghostly instrumentality," (Gardens of War, p. 87).

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"REFERENCES"

1968, Gardner, Robert & Heider, Karl G., "Gardens of War, Life and Death in the New Guinea Stone Age," p. 87.
1970, Heider, Karl G., "The Dugum Dani," p. 288.
1978, Marcus, Rebecca B., "Survivors of The Stone Age," p. 113.
1998, Konder, Albert, Personal Communication, Letter.
1999, Hampton, O. W., "Culture of Stone, Sacred and Profane Uses of Stone Among the Dani,"

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