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Probably the Philippines - man ritual scarring and spear
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Probably the Philippines - man ritual scarring and spear
c.1880s South East Asia - probably the Philippines - man with decorative or ritual scarring and a spear
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Media ID 23434014
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This photograph, taken in the late 19th century, likely depicts a man from the Philippines during a ritual or ceremonial occasion. The man is adorned with intricate decorative scarring on his chest and arms, a practice that was common among various ethnic groups in the Philippines before the Spanish colonization. The scars were often obtained through a painful process of cutting or burning the skin, and were believed to signify tribal affiliation, status, or protection. The man in the photograph holds a spear, a traditional weapon used for hunting and warfare in Southeast Asia. The spear, with its sharp point and long shaft, would have been an essential tool for survival in the pre-colonial Philippines. The spear's presence in the image further emphasizes the man's connection to his cultural heritage and the traditional way of life that existed before the arrival of European powers. The photograph is an albumen print, a popular photographic process during the Victorian era. It was taken using a collodion process, which involved coating a glass plate with a light-sensitive emulsion and exposing it to light. The resulting image was then fixed and developed, producing a high-quality, detailed photograph. This photograph is a valuable historical record of a time and place that is often overlooked in the grand narrative of world history. It offers a glimpse into the rich cultural traditions and practices of the Philippines before the onset of European imperialism. The man's proud gaze and the intricacy of his scarring and spear serve as a reminder of the resilience and strength of indigenous communities in the face of external influences and challenges.
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