In the heart of the Polynesian Islands lives one of the strongest ethnic groups in the world—the Samoans. They are a mix of Southern Mongoloid and Australoid ancestry and are part of the Polynesian people. They speak the Samoan language, which belongs to the Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.
Fans of wrestling, combat sports, and Hollywood action films might already be familiar with Samoans. Many of them have made names for themselves in WWE and other professional wrestling leagues. Even Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, a well-known American actor and former wrestler, has Samoan heritage. His muscular build is a perfect example of the Samoan physique.
Samoans typically have light brown skin, larger body frames, and broad builds. Men, in particular, are known for their tall height, thick bones, and outstanding physical strength. They are especially known for being extremely resistant to physical hits, which has led to their reputation as one of the toughest people in the world. It’s not surprising that many of them are described as having “refrigerator-like” builds.
Historically, Samoan society was quite isolated from the rest of the world. Their islands lacked natural resources, and they did not have access to metal tools. For a long time, they remained in the Neolithic era, living in patriarchal clan-based societies. Chiefs were respected and often worshipped, but conflicts between clans were common. They also fought with outsiders, and a form of slavery existed. Violent clashes occurred frequently.
Because they had no metal tools, Samoans used whatever strong materials they could find on their islands to make weapons. Dense hardwood was especially favored. One example is a traditional Samoan club, made in the early 19th century, measuring about 48 by 8 by 8 centimeters. It’s likely made from ironwood, giving it a heavy and solid structure with a metallic shine.
At first glance, such a thick weapon might seem too bulky or awkward to use. But for the powerful Samoan warriors, it was just right. They could swing it with one arm and deal devastating blows. The club often had small bumps or spikes on the striking end, similar to a mace, making it even more dangerous. Even if the target was a well-muscled opponent, one hit could cause serious injury. Only Samoans, with their incredible toughness, could take a few hits from it and keep fighting.
For many isolated cultures around the world—such as the Inuit in the Arctic, the Maori in New Zealand, and the Polynesians in the South Pacific—metal tools were simply out of reach. They didn’t have the means to mine or forge metal. Instead, they developed reliable weapons made from bones.
For example, in New Guinea, some indigenous people made daggers from cassowary bones. The Inuit crafted harpoons and spearheads from walrus tusks and reindeer bones. In these cultures, bone weapons were usually used for hunting and fishing rather than full-scale war, as their level of social development was relatively low.
But in Polynesia, bone weapons reached a much higher level of craftsmanship and importance. Compared to the Inuit, Polynesian societies were more advanced and had larger populations spread across many islands. Although they didn’t have access to metals until European explorers arrived in the Age of Sail, they made up for it with creativity.
Living in a sea-rich environment, Polynesians used marine animals to make weapons. One of the most famous types is the shark-tooth weapon. These were somewhat like the obsidian blades used by Native Americans. Polynesians would attach sharp shark teeth to wooden clubs or paddles by drilling holes into the teeth and tying them down with fiber. Unlike heavy obsidian blades, shark-tooth weapons were light and easy to handle, yet still very sharp.
Shark teeth weren’t the only ocean materials they used. Polynesians also made axes from turtle shells, spears and clubs from whale bones, daggers from swordfish bills, and hammers from large seashells. In fact, a Polynesian war party might look like a “walking seafood museum.” The wide variety of bone-based weapons shows just how serious the inter-island conflicts were. This was not a peaceful, laid-back culture as early European visitors once imagined.
Once metal weapons became common, bone weapons slowly lost their value. But that doesn’t mean they disappeared completely. In many nomadic societies, bone arrowheads were still widely used for a long time. These arrows weren’t more powerful or durable than metal ones, but they were much easier and cheaper to make. For nomads who lived in remote areas, iron was a luxury that had to be traded for, while bones were readily available.
In everyday hunting or protecting livestock, it made more sense to use bone arrows. And because most enemies didn’t wear metal armor, bone arrows were still deadly in combat. That’s why many nomadic or semi-nomadic peoples, from Siberian hunters to Tatar tribes in the Russian steppe, continued to use bone arrowheads even when they had access to iron. As late as the 19th century, American soldiers fighting Native tribes on the Great Plains were still being struck by bone-tipped arrows.
Bones were even used in armor. For example, some Mongol warriors would glue bone shards onto leather armor to increase its strength. In other parts of Asia, like China and India, decorative armor was made from materials like pangolin scales. While this armor was beautiful, it wasn’t very practical for fighting. It was mostly used to show off status. (Just a note—pangolin scales are not bones, but a type of keratin, so this armor technically belongs to the category of leather armor.)
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