1923.85.421

Collection type

Object

Description

Red ware pottery funerary urn, which contained a female skull.

Long description

Red ware pottery funerary urn, which contained a female skull. The shape of the vessel is ovoid in the body with a rounded base and a neck that goes straight upwards. Incised crosses below the shoulder and an applied band on the shoulder with an impressed pattern upon it. Combed vertical lines on the neck.

Geographical reference

India

Asia > Southern Asia > India

Cultural groups

Pochuri

Person

Field collector John Henry Hutton

PRM source John Henry Hutton

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1927

Date collected

February 1927

Acquisition information

Donated: 1927

Materials and processes

Material Pottery, Process Incised, Process Impressed

Dimensions

Diameter: max 251 mm, Height: max 310 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1923.85.421

Research and responses

A skull of a woman from Laruri was donated by Hutton in 1929 (1923.85.678). The accession book entry for this remain stated that the skull was associated with a mortuary urn from a granary at Laruri which had previously been sent by Hutton in 1927. It seems most likely that this pottery vessel (1923.85.421) is the urn with which the remain is associated. [Joanna Cole 28/03/2025]

During a visit of Naga elders and tribal leaders in June 2025, members of the delegation identified misspellings of village names and provided updated tribal affiliations for objects and ancestors associated with certain villages. In consultations with Talamong Khiamniungan, Executive Chairman of the Khiamniungan Tribal Council, the following information was confirmed: Laruri village, now in Meluri District, is a Pochury Naga - not a Khimaniungan Naga - village. It was agreed that Pochury Naga would be added to the cultural group field for all objects and photographs from Laruri. [JMC 17/07/2025]

Search terms: Pottery, Vessel, Death, Food and Drink, Religion, Food Accessory, Amulet