crocodile canoe prow
PU1224
New Guinea canoe prow. This cowrie eyed crocodile carving was the front end of a carved canoe. It is typical of the wooden canoe that evolved on the Sepik river. The Papua people living along this huge river evolved, like the rest of the world, and they moved for modern boats. But even when the wooden canoe was abandonned, they knew the carved prow was worth keeping. And they still celebrate this symbol of strength each year in August during the Ambunti Crocodile festival.
