PHOTO ESSAY - THE TOMBS OF SUMBA
REMEMBER TO CLICK ON EACH PHOTO (once or even twice) IF YOU WANT THE FULL IMAGE
Given the importance of burials which I mentioned in the Post IT TAKES A VILLAGE, I thought I would insert a few typical tomb stones and graves here as a photo essay. In the villages, tombs occupy the central space and are most likely still fashioned in the traditional ways (limestone) and decorated with traditional symbols. In the cities, each family has their tomb in their front yard. At times the size of the tomb rivals that of the house... Often, materials such as concrete or bathroom tiles replace traditional materials. If animals are depicted on the tomb exteriors, such as buffalos, pigs, chickens, or horses - this is an indication that these animals have been slaughtered to accompany the deceased into the afterlife.
