The Aseki Smoked Bodies of Papua New Guinea

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[T]he people in Menyama smoke the bodies of their dead in order to preserve them, and then take the bodies up a very steep incline to a cliff.

These bodies—they are very much like mummies—are placed in such a way that they look down the mountain and upon the village far below. The people believe that these ancestors protect them, and keep them safe from harm.

[O]nly the warriors of the village are smoked and become the guardians of the village. A warrior’s son will also become a warrior. And only the son of a warrior can become a warrior.

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The bodies aren’t up there indefinitely, either. On occasion, a deceased relative will be brought back down from their cliffside perches for celebrations as mundane as a birthday party.

Top image via Mangiqau on flickriver.
Bottom two images by Amy Greeson on expedition with the non-profit Healing Seekers.

Via Papua New Guinea Journal. Also check out On Point.

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I design video games for a living, write fiction, political theory and poetry for personal amusement, and train regularly in Western European 16th century swordwork. On frequent occasion I have been known to hunt for and explore abandoned graveyards, train tunnels and other interesting places wherever I may find them, but there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that I am preparing to set off a zombie apocalypse. Nothing that will stand up in court, at least. I use paranthesis with distressing frequency, have a deep passion for history, anthropology and sociological theory, and really, really, really hate mayonnaise. But I wash my hands after the writing. Promise.

7 thoughts on “The Aseki Smoked Bodies of Papua New Guinea”

  1. Sarah Mangan on said:

    Seems as if they just might run out of warriors if they went to war

    Reply ↓
    • on said:

      I’m sure they recycle.

      Reply ↓

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  5. Hello, would you be so kind to give credit for the photos ? The last 2 are my photos on expedition with our non profit, Healing Seekers Thank you! ~Amy Greeson

    Reply ↓
    • on said:

      Credit added. Thanks a ton for finding this…I couldn’t find the credits for those shots when I originally looked for them.

      Reply ↓

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