This wooden head is carved in the shape of a warrior of Konyak Naga. It is a well-known fact that this tribe has a historical record of headhunting practices. The sculpture is done in black-painted hair such as eyebrows, and two short prominent pins above the ears, which perhaps symbolize traditional ornaments or perhaps suggest the warrior's status. Such effigies were either put on or displayed by those warriors who had committed the great deed of taking an enemy's head, as a testament of their bravery and as symbolic links to their passage into manhood.
The act of headhunting was fundamentally part of their beliefs that regarding productivity and prosperity and what it means to have spiritual strength. By displaying such effigies, the person could be considered to display an honor to himself while engaging in a gesture of communal pride in the strength and vigor of the village. The tattoo designs present on the sculpture define Konyak's ancient traditional designs and were the only markings of valor. The markings were made on the unfortunate occasion of a celebration, wherein the marks were considered sacred hence people believed that such marks could even be recognized in the afterlife. Goat hair usage and detailed carvings indicate the tribe's intricate artistry and the cultural value they attached to such representations.