M0005248: Man wearing skull of deceased relative, Andaman Islands

Date:
17 November 1937
Reference:
WT/D/1/20/1/42/79
Part of:
Wellcome Trust Corporate Archive
  • Archives and manuscripts
  • Online

Available online

view M0005248: Man wearing skull of deceased relative, Andaman Islands

In copyright

It is possible this item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You may be able to use this digital item under a copyright exception, otherwise you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). These may be identified elsewhere in the catalogue record. Read more about copyright.

Read further guidance on copyright exceptions in the UK.

Credit

M0005248: Man wearing skull of deceased relative, Andaman Islands. In copyright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

About this work

Also known as

Previous title, replaced October 2021: Native wearing the skull of dead relative, Andaman Islands

Description

Photograph of a man from the Andaman Islands wearing the skull of a dead relative suspended down his back, worn as a memorial and to heal sickness. Around his head is a chau-ga-ta memorial necklace, made from the bones of a deceased relative. These necklaces were also worn to heal pain and to prevent sickness. The photograph is from an unknown source

Publication/Creation

17 November 1937

Physical description

1 photograph glass plate negative; 12 x 16.5 cm

Notes

Catalogue data comes from a combination of entries in the original glass plate registers, metadata created when the glass plates were digitised in the early 2000s and enhancements made by the cataloguer in 2021.

Terms of use

Please consult the digitised version as this item is fragile. Email library@wellcomecollection.org to request access to the physical item.

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    By appointmentManual request

Permanent link