Phallic stone, Chingam, near Kongam

B&W photographic print. 'The skull of the deceased is placed in this stone cist, in the belief that the fertility or "soul force" contained in the head will be channelled back into the earth, and thus increase the fertility of the village.'


Date(s) of creation: October 1923
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Mills; James Philip (1890-1960); colonial administrator and anthropologist
URL: http://digital.soas.ac.uk/LOAA004335
URL Description: Digital version available online at SOAS Digital Collections

Summary: B&W photographic print. 'The skull of the deceased is placed in this stone cist, in the belief that the fertility or "soul force" contained in the head will be channelled back into the earth, and thus increase the fertility of the village.'
Main author: Mills; James Philip (1890-1960); colonial administrator and anthropologist
Extent: 1 photograph
Note: Urns
Cists (Boxes)
Naga (South Asian people)
Ethnic group: Naga
Ethnic group: Konyak Naga
Access status: Open
Copyright: Copyright held by J.P. Mills
Language: No linguistic content
Scripts: Unwritten
Physical description: 12 x 7 cm
Copies: Digital version available online at SOAS Digital Collections
Format: Archive