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Wood and Bone Medicine Container

Wood and Bone Medicine Container
Map
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Source: Field collected, 1994
  • Size (cm): 11
  • Material: Wood and bone

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, North Sumatra, Batak people, late 20th century. A medicine container made from a yellowed bone tube with ringed bands, closed by a dark carved wooden stopper with a pointed head.

Batak priest-healers (datu) kept powerful medicines in containers of horn, bone and bamboo. Field collected, 1994.