The Club

   Clubs have been around as for as long as mankind has walked erect (who can think of a caveman without picturing a club in his hand?).  Styles of clubs range from simple sticks to elaborately carved works of art.  Bashing weapons used to inflict concussion blows rather than piercing ones, clubs are effective against all opponents, armored or not.  The most recent forms of the mace weapon are simply derivations of the club concept.  

   Generally, clubs were made from some type of wood, but among certain cultures other sturdy, lightweight materials such as bone and stone were used.  The club at upper right is an example of a wood and bone club from a south Pacific culture.  As further example of variation in the materials clubs were made of, the club at lower left is nothing more than a whale penis bone (what a humiliating way to die...).  Interestingly, polynesian cultures took the club to its highest form of artistic style; they used clubs not only as weapons of war, but also as elaborate ceremonial props.