The Iron Spear of the Naga tribe is an artifact of cultural significance in which practical and ceremonial meanings coexist. This spear, unlike those for use in combat, has a dull iron tip almost triangular in shape, which points toward its ceremonial significance, ritualistic activity, wartime dances, or mere display of personal status. It speaks of the erstwhile warrior heritage of the Naga people and their aesthetic expression through utilitarian objects, both of which are interrelated.
An iron head with an iron socket fits in firmly with a long cylindrical wooden shaft. The making of the spear was a process demanding high skills in balance and proportion, drawing on old indigenous knowledge with the modern application of metallurgy and woodworking. What sets the spear apart, however, is the decoration: the shaft is enclosed by two cane bands and bark thread tightly wound around it, an impressive example of the artistry of the tribe.
Garnishing the bark thread with a couple of dyed hair strands augments the ceremonial value of this spear yet again. Dyed hair could have some symbolic import: clan identity, prestige, or spiritual belief. Such details also suggest that the spear was used in a traditional setting, possibly for dances, local rituals, or the outward display of prestige.
The Naga tribes are known for martial cultures and colorful festivals, hence maintaining this spear-making tradition for both weaponry and cultural symbolic use. Today, the spears are considered invaluable not just as ethnographic objects and relics but also as ageless markers of identity and memory for the Naga people.