Barava (land title deed)

This is a barava (land title deed) from the western Solomon Islands. It is considered an original deed of title to tribal land. When it was made, it would been a tangible symbol of a tribe's wealth, identity, and pride in their land. It is made from fossilised tridacna shell that has been carefully carved with repeating motifs and patterns. Today, the name 'barava' is used throughout the Solomon Islands and beyond as a generic name to cover a wide range of tridacna shell fretwork carvings. Historical records indicate, however, that formerly different names were used in different localities.

Origin and acquisition history
According to one researcher, 'by 1918 this barava had probably become a war trophy taken from a defeated tribe that had lost in the head-hunting raids that proliferated following the introduction of foreign weapons, boats, and guns. Its theft was probably intended by the victors as a further humiliation of the losers.' As the Solomon Island place name 'Vella Lavella' was written later on its original accession listing, this 'trophy' may have been brought to the region of New Georgia after a head-hunting raid further north, or from Vella Lavella itself. With the passage of time, and out of its original social context among the victors, it became available for trade with the foreign planters. Unaware of its history and significance, two of these foreign planters gave the barava to the Dominion Museum (Te Papa's predecessor) in 1919, probably as a 'native curiosity'.