Head hung from a pole

B&W photographic print. 'The head in the Chang Naga village of Chentang is hung on the pole in the style of the Yimchungrü Naga. As well as heads, hands and feet of enemies are hung on long bamboo poles from the head tree. According to Mills they are considered to be rich in fertility which can...

Full description


Date(s) of creation: April 1923
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Mills; James Philip (1890-1960); colonial administrator and anthropologist
URL: http://digital.soas.ac.uk/LOAA004392
URL Description: Digital version available online at SOAS Digital Collections

Summary: B&W photographic print. 'The head in the Chang Naga village of Chentang is hung on the pole in the style of the Yimchungrü Naga. As well as heads, hands and feet of enemies are hung on long bamboo poles from the head tree. According to Mills they are considered to be rich in fertility which can be channelled for the benefit of the village. (It has to be noted that the concept of fertility is not necessarily indigenous but an anthropological theory of the time).'
Main author: Mills; James Philip (1890-1960); colonial administrator and anthropologist
Extent: 1 photograph
Note: Skulls
Naga (South Asian people)
Ethnic group: Naga
Ethnic group: Chang Naga
Access status: Open
Copyright: Copyright held by J.P. Mills
Language: No linguistic content
Scripts: Unwritten
Physical description: 9.5 x 7 cm
Copies: Digital version available online at SOAS Digital Collections
Format: Archive