The most ingenious armour you've never heard of

How do you make armour and weapons on a small pacific atoll, with no access to metal? The islanders of Kiribati in the South Pacific have had the answer to this question for centuries, and what they've created is nothing short of awe inspiring. Join curator Julie Adams as she examines these incredible objects in the Oceania collection, and unravels a story that reaches not only into the past of Kiribati warfare, but also into how these traditional techniques are being preserved for the future. 00:00 Intro 01:10 Kiribati 02:40 The objects 04:06 Coconut dungarees 06:52 Coconut cuirass 08:40 Shark Tooth Weapons 10:00 Porcupine fish helmet 12:45 Kiribati Bob's journey 14:45 Relearning the techniques 16:00 Touring exhibition For information on the touring exhibition, please click on the link below: https://www.britishmuseum.org/our-work/international/international-touring-exhibitions/islanders-art-life-oceania Content credits in order of appearance: International Date Line Map: Data provided by PacIOOS (www.pacioos.org) Super 8 Home Movies generously provided by Kaetaeta’s husband, John Watson Aerial photo of Tarawa: Photo taken by Government of Kiribati employee in the course of their work, CC BY 3.0 Aerial photo of Onotoa Island: Edvac, CC BY-SA 3.0 Kiribati Stamps: John Lowe Air Kiribati arrives in Tawara: Meandkancil2020, CC BY-SA 4.0 Illustrations of Kiribati protectorate: Page 5, 10th September 1892, The London Illustrated News, CAHL I Kiribati man posing with armour: Object P.143712.ACH2, Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Cambridge. Details of P.143712.ACH2 Warrior of Nukunau, PD-1966-16, Auckland Museum Photo of green coconuts: Iaminfo, CC BY-SA 3.0 Fibre construction process photos: Lizzy Leckie and Chris Charteris Fibre workshop photos : Faye Belsey Black-tipped reef shark : Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 Silky shark: Alex Chernikh, CC BY-SA 3.0 Nervous shark: Oskar King CC BY-NC Porcupine fish image: IDNO DG.148148.ACL, Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Cambridge. Sand on helmet image: IDNO 2011.93.3, Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Cambridge. I Kiribati man in armour near tree: P.4911.ACH1, Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Cambridge. Two I Kiribati men with armour, with detail: P.52396.VH, Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Cambridge. I Kiribati man face on with armour: P.70818.ACH2, Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Cambridge. Photos of examining and making armour: Lizzy Leckie and Chris Charteris