These three arrows belong to the Sangtam Naga tribe of Nagaland and speak of their ethnicity through their indigenous manufacture and traditional hunting styles. Preserved in the Indian Museum at Kolkata, these are specially made for hunting small game and birds in the forested areas of eastern Nagaland.
Every arrow has its sharp and pointed iron head properly tied to bamboo shaft with durable cane strips. The employment of materials like bamboo and cane and precision-forged irons at the tips illustrates the measure of ingenuity and skill of the Sangtam blacksmiths and hunters.
According to Sangtam tradition, hunting was not merely for meat but also the defining stamp of manhood and knowledge of survival. Light weight and aerodynamically, these arrows were the surest and cleanest means for a hunt. The design of these arrows tells one that there is a thorough understanding of balance, material strength, and purpose.
Such traditional weaponry provides one of the keys to study cultural heritage in relation to Naga tribes as it indicates their closeness towards nature.