M0012642: Memorial head, Makekula

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Photograph of a memorial head from Makekula, Vanuatu. The head contains a human skull which was then covered in clay and painted as an act of memorial, possibly as part of a Rambaramp suggesting the deceased person was of a high rank in his community. This head was bought at auction from Fosters in July 1931 and accessioned by the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum (R6053/1936) but is not held by Wellcome Collection. The photograph was included in the catalogue for a Wellcome Historical Medical Museum Exhibition illustrating the medicine of the aboriginal peoples in the British Commonwealth, London, 1952.

M0012642: Memorial head, Makekula

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