Such pendants are called siripiya. They are worn as pectoral ornaments by men of the the Bena-Bena and of the Kamano tribes. Originally siripiya were worn in battle, as they were believed to protect the wearer from harm. Today, they are mostly used during traditional dance ceremonies. The two large shells on both sides are the houses of ovula snails, the small shells are nassa snails. Both snail shells are considered very valuable in Papua New Guinea. Siripiya are therefore up to this day used as bride price and for compensation payments, for instance for the death of a person.