Young men would have eaten from this bowl and worn this neck ornament during a series of elaborate feasts and dances that were held on Manus Island in the early part of the 20th century. Ceremonies like these were not common prior to this time. Rather, they were invented as a way of honoring young men who, prior to colonialism, would have shown their strength and valor in warfare. Colonial governments suppressed this traditional activity, viewing it as a threat to their own safety, and unwittingly created the need for a whole new class of artworks and ceremonies across the Pacific.