Carved Head,Wear,Iron Spikes ?

Here's a piece I picked-up because I liked it.It's 16" high,heavy,and has iron spikes (nails) pounded into it's head.Quite worn and the iron spikes have a deep patina brown rust,it's fairly heavy.Can anyone ID if it's Old/New,and cultural/ethnic attribution ? Thanks All for taking a look.
PS-Sorry for all the Images,just can't nail this thing down.

 

Weird huh ? 1 spike missing,with a viking/Celtic face ? Don't have a clue.

 

PS-Not stating it's Viking or Celt friends (not insane yet),just an unprofessional impression.

 

@2manybooks .

 

Any Jewelry-Thanks for the rec,so it's OK to just send a (private mess ?) to 2manybooks,or just a link to this post to him/her ? Don't want to step on any toes

 

Don't worry, you don't have to do anything. 2manybooks will see the tag (name in blue), and will reply when she has time.

 

Thanks again-She's got an amazing talent for research (roaring 20's also w/ pics).

 

Forgot to mention-traces of old mud(?) or something else,remains in some of the incised grooves of carving (see closeup of forehead nails & headdress/hair section).

 

Interesting head. It looks like wood - is that correct? Any signs of it having been attached to something at the neck? The face is very weathered. That, and the dramatic lighting, makes it difficult to see the features. Do you think it has a beard and mustache?

 

Looks African, to me. Iron nails in wood as part of the sculpture...West Africa?

 

Here's a few new Pics.You can actually see how weathered it is.

 

Grave marker/exterior shrine-lots of weather on this thing ?

 

I agree that it looks African. But I am having trouble placing the combination of features more specifically. It is unusual to find a disembodied, apparently free standing head. Full figures are much more common. I can't see any evidence on the bottom of the neck that would suggest it was cut off of a larger figure, or any means of attaching it to something else for use as a "crest mask" (smaller sculptures attached to the top of a dance mask). It is not in the style of a reliquary head such as the Fang (Gabon) make.

The detail of the facial features are too worn to make out clearly, and these would be important clues to style/origin.

The hair crest reminds me most of a style traditionally worn by Fulani women:
But the Fulani are not noted carvers.

Somewhat similar crests are depicted in some Bamana/Bambara (Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, & Guinea)and Senufo (Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast) figures:

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/310780

But the Bamana and Senufo styles use narrowed eyes. The eyes on your head seem to be broad and open.

You can also see similar crests in Yoruba (Nigeria) art, as well as Punu (Gabon):

https://www.finch-and-co.co.uk/artwork-detail/813896/18682/fine-west-african-yoruba-seated-maternity


https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/16518777-punu-guardian-figure-of-a-family-clan

Both Yoruba and Punu styles often include the more open eyes that seem to appear on your piece.

Another feature that puzzles me is the subtle detail on the neck. I would expect a simple cylindrical neck, or one with horizontal folds (a feature suggesting plumpness that some groups find attractive). But that v-shaped detail is unusual.

Of course, there is the possibility that I am having trouble placing it because it comes from someplace other than Africa.

 

There is something about that neck that says palm frond stalk, close to th' tree...to me, anyway.

 

Much thanks to both for your research and intelligent opinions.The piece seems to have some age.How something like this seems to be African (hair),w/Scandinavian,Scythian,Celt (mustache,pointy beard)facial characteristics is a complete mystery to me (as is the intense weathering).
If it's made from a coconut tree trunk-that could be a big clue,perhaps run it by a Forestry Professor-we got 'em in the North Country.
The hair weirdly (a horned bun)-reminds me of Coppola's 'old' Dracula hair.
Maybe some Bohemian/Beatnik 'Viking' did it back in the 50's and strapped it to his boat.
It also would be strange if this were a Tribal 'portrait' of a European,what a 'mixed bag' oddity.