20th December 2005, 12:21 AM
Agreed on that point Sniper, but the question remains as to why such, supposedly, valuable weapons were placed with the children. Their belief in the afterlife would, IMO, give them reason to ensure the child, who is of the 'warrior caste' was greeted in whatever meeting place by the ancestors as befitted his/her status. Thus ensuring entrance to the halls of the ancestors. They may never have readied their weapons in anger during their short lives, but, as 'warriors' they would, as can be found in many feudal societies, have been trained in weapon lore as soon as they could hold the weapon. It was a necessity of the times, logically, that as many people as possible be prepared to fight to defend their homes, land, and hunting grounds against incursions.