Mandau are straight-edged swords that were used by Dayak warriors in warfare. Many Dayak groups had mandau hilts carved out of the antlers or bones of the ‘rusa’ (sambur deer), or out of hardwoods. Precious items such as mandau, mandau hilts and scabbards were trophies of war and highly prized by Dayak warriors. They were often richly decorated with fur, feathers and talismans to protect the warriors who used them. The origins of most mandaus in the possession of a Dayak group are ambiguous as they were often raided from other groups.
