Second Life of Bodies in New Guinea

In: Annals of the Náprstek Museum, Band 39, Heft 1, S. 5-20

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to analyze and interpret uses of human remains in traditional cultures of New Guinea. The author discusses four groups of artifacts: ancestor cult, war trophy, items of everyday needs, and body adornments. The author provides detailed information from selected cultures of New Guinea. It is shown that artifacts made from human remains were not an isolated phenomenon, but were an integral part of cultural customs and way of life in particular cultures.