The Bow-StaveBamboo is a traditional pellet bow used by the Angami Naga tribe in Nagaland and represents the tribe's strong heritage of craftsmanship and forest-based life. The peculiar shape of this bow consists of a long, curved bamboo stave with notches at both ends for holding the bowstring; however, for this specimen, the string is missing. A small split bamboo piece supported by iron wires is fastened along the length of the main long bamboo stave for added support and balance. The stave tapers toward both ends, making the bow light in weight and strong for the launch of pellets or light projectiles.
It was presumably once used for hunting small animals and birds and perhaps for training young warriors. The almost non-existent decoration of this bow shows how the Angami use anything they can find in their immediate environment, bamboo and iron being two resources common in the hilly terrains of Nagaland. Beyond the functional aspect, as it represents the cultural identity of the tribe, the Bow-StaveBamboo conveys the tribe's link to nature and their customary ways of living.