Bone Decoration

History

Stenza have had access to the small bones of prey animals since time immemorial, and while it is unknown who got the idea to use them to ornament clothing, smaller bones are a lot scarcer in the archaeological record since several thousand years prior to the abandonment of their earliest known settlement. Some speculate that it may have predated settlement entirely as a means of easily transporting small bones without discarding them, alongside making them into tools (such as spindles or shuttles, or small knives for the preparation of leather).
Another theory holds that the sound of the bones rattling against each other and softly scraping against something like a takhasar was what was was sought after, as it added to An'o performances.
In any event, the practice spread across the crater to become universal well before the Unification of Clans, and has been adopted for the decoration of non-clothing items, such as spears and battle-axes, typically ceremonial weapons held by high-ranking Stenza.

Components and tools

Regardless of how it came about, this is and has always been a means of using the small bones of prey animals, such as finger bones, vertebrae, wrist bones, teeth, and other small parts that do not make feasible tools, but that no one wants to throw away. These are tied with long, thin leather strips to woven cloths, leather garments, and ceremonial weapons. In modern times, larger bones such as the jaw bones of small animals are tied thusly to the waist bands of takhasar especially as a decorative touch. This adds a note of ceremony and importance to the garment, and it has begun to spread to some ceremonial uniforms alongside the larger trophies that are commonly added.

Primary Related Location

Mudewei