A MAORI SKULL BOX FROM NORTH AUCKLAND by Dr T. BARROW This strange little container was used as a skull box. The peg below was used to stand it upright on the floor of the cave where it was hidden. Maori skull-boxes are rare; the one pictured here is now in the Auckland Museum, with two similar boxes, all from Whangaroa. It may seem strange to place the skull of one's ancestor or dead relative in a carved container, but this was a widespread custom in Indonesia and many Pacific islands. It is not therefore surprising to find evidence of this practice in the Polynesian islands of New Zealand. We must also remember that in Polynesian belief the head was an especially tapu part of the body. This skull box provides us with an example of the distinctive North Auckland carving style, artistically advanced and somewhat similar to Hawaiian image carving. Basically, this style is akin to the more familiar forms of Maori carving. The simplicity of form and lack of surface decoration are particularly attractive features. (Photo: Peter Blanc)
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TAH195903.2.25.1
Bibliographic details
Te Ao Hou, March 1959, Page 38
Word Count
180A MAORI SKULL BOX FROM NORTH AUCKLAND Te Ao Hou, March 1959, Page 38
Using This Item
E here ana ngā mōhiotanga i tēnei whakaputanga i raro i te manatārua o te Karauna, i te manatārua o te Māori Purposes Fund Board hoki/rānei. Kua whakaae te Māori Purposes Fund Board i tōna whakaaetanga ki te National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa kia whakawhanake kia whakatupu hoki ā-ipurangi i tēnei ihirangi.
Ka taea e koe te rapu, te tirotiro, te tā, te tiki ā-ipurangi hoki i ngā kai o roto mō te rangahau, me ngā whakamātau whaiaro a te tangata. Me mātua kimi whakaaetanga mai i te poari mō ētahi atu whakamahinga.
He pai noa iho tō hanga hononga ki ngā kai o roto i tēnei pae tukutuku. Kāore e whakaaetia ngā hononga kia kī, kia whakaatu whakaaro rānei ehara ngā kai nei nā te National Library.
The Secretary Maori Purposes Fund Board
C/- Te Puni Kokiri
PO Box 3943
WELLINGTON
Waea: (04) 922 6000
Īmēra: MB-RPO-MPF@tpk.govt.nz
Information in this publication is subject to Crown copyright and/or the copyright of the Māori Purposes Fund Board. The Māori Purposes Fund Board has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online.
You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study. Permission must be obtained from the board for any other use.
You are welcome to create links to the content on this website. Any link may not be done in a way to say or imply that the material is other than that of the National Library.
The Secretary Maori Purposes Fund Board
C/- Te Puni Kokiri
PO Box 3943
WELLINGTON
Phone: (04) 922 6000
Email: MB-RPO-MPF@tpk.govt.nz