1923.85.173

Collection type

Object

Description

Utensil used for preparing and eating food, made from carved stone.

Geographical reference

India

Asia > Southern Asia > India

Cultural groups

Phom Naga

Konyak Naga

Person

Field collector John Henry Hutton

PRM source John Henry Hutton

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1924

Date collected

By 1924

Acquisition information

Donated: 1924

Materials and processes

Material Stone, Material Pottery, Material Metal

Dimensions

Length: max 42 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1923.85.173

Research and responses

During a visit of Naga elders and tribal leaders in June 2025, members of the delegation identified misspellings of village names and incorrect tribal affiliations for objects or ancestors associated with certain villages. In consultations with Mr Ngongba Tange Thamlong Phom, Vice President of the Phom Peoples’ Organization, ' ‘Yungya’ was identified as 'Yongnyah' a Phom Naga village in Longleng District, Nagaland. For all objects listed as from ‘Yungya’ the correct spelling ' Yongnyah' has been used and ‘Phom Naga’ has been added to the cultural group field. [EW 19/08/2025]

This object record was discussed with Mr Ngongba Tange Thamlong Phom, Vice President of the Phom Peoples’ Organization as follow up work to his visit as part of a group of Naga elders and tribal leaders in June 2025. In consultations with Phom elders, Mr Ngongba Tange Thamlong Phom provided the below information about the use of the obejct via WhatsApp. [EW 19/08/2025]

"It was called as the 'hüngshong' which was primarily used for crushing gingers inside the stone bowl and the side small spaces were used for cutting meat into smaller pieces because in olden days they used to cook meat in large chunks and after it was cooked it was again cut into smaller pieces ready to be eaten."

Search terms: Religion, Amulet, Unidentified Object