Archaeological records show that the Solomon Islands were first settled by humans in 3400 BP. The peoples of the Solomon Islands are not a unified social group and fighting between neighboring villages was especially common. Ceremonial practices, most notably headhunting, are particularly well-documented throughout the archipelago and ritual paraphernalia is of great importance. The zigzag pattern of the inlaid nautilus shell on this club is a common decorative feature of many ceremonial objects, suggesting that this club was used for ritual purposes and not used during combat.

---