Sanggala

The Trunk with Graves::Tana Toraja, Sulawesi Indonesia::
The Trunk with Graves
The Infant Grave::Tana Toraja, Sulawesi Indonesia::
The Infant Grave
The Baby Graves::Tana Toraja, Sulawesi Indonesia::
The Baby Graves

According to the animist Toraja belief aluk to dolo or "the law of the ancestors" died small babies, who has not grown teeth yet had to be buried in the trunk of a tree. For this purpose, a special opening was hollowed out and the dead child was placed inside. It had to be a living tree, which continued life of the infant. A hole in the trunk was obstructed by the door made of palm fiber. With the passing time the growing tree heals its wounds rebuilding the damaged trunk and closing the hole around the child. After many years just barely visible crack in the trunk of a tree remains.


© 2010 Maciej Swulinski