Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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:
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
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:
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
