NIAS SIRAHA SALAWA ANCESTOR STATUE NIAS TRIBAL ARTIFACT DAVID HOWARD TRIBAL ART Tribal Art Asia carved wooden nias statue Indonesia wood figure deity sacred effigy religious ritual fertility god ceremonial shaman craftmanship Nias Tribal artifact

The first ancestors of Nias were Austromelanesoid race from Hoabinth at 10,000 B.C.
and then came more advance Austronesians from Taiwan which
shifted the existence of the Austromelanesoids.

Isolated yet worldly, the Nias Island chain has been trading since prehistory
with other cultures, other islands, and even mainland Asia. Some historians and
archaeologists have cited the local culture as one of the few remaining
Megalithic cultures in existence today. While this point of view is hotly
debated, there is no doubt that Nias' relative geographic isolation has
created a unique culture. As a culture of traders, the people of Nias find
tourists to be a welcome – and historically familiar – phenomenon.

Nias is best known for its diversity of festivals and celebration.
The most well-known events are War Dances, performed regularly
for tourists, and Stone Jumping, a manhood ritual that sees young men leaping
over two meter stone towers to their fate. In the past the top of the stone board
is covered with spikes and sharp pointed bamboo. The music of Nias,
performed mostly by women, is noted worldwide for its haunting beauty.

Gunungsitoli is home to Nias's only museum, the Museum Pusaka Nias
(Nias Heritage Foundation), which houses over 6000 objects related to
Nias's cultural heritage. The museum had recently built a new building
and had improved their storage and exhibitions when the 2004 earthquake and
tsunami occurred. The museum suffered some damage to the grounds and collections,
but museum staff are working to recover from this devastating event!

The predominant religion is Protestant Christianity.
Six out of seven Niasans are Protestant; the remainder are about
evenly divided between Muslim (mostly immigrants from elsewhere in Indonesia)
and Catholic. However adherence to either Christian or Muslim religions is
still largely symbolic; Nias continues into current day celebrating its own
indigenous culture and traditions as the primary form of spiritual expression.

The people of Nias build omo sebua houses on massive ironwood
pillars with towering roofs. Not only were they almost impregnable to attack
in former tribal warfare, their flexible nail-less construction
provide proven earthquake durability.

Nias is home not only to a unique human culture
but also endemic fauna which differ from other areas of North Sumatra
because of the island's remote location separate from Sumatra.

Asian tribal art, artifacts, ifugao, kalinga, bontoc, asmat, dayak, philippines, asia, head hunters, human trophy skull, skulls, african, antiques, naga, necklace, headdress, head hunting trophy skull, Indonesia, Indonesian, SOUTHEAST ASIA, Borneo, Sarawak, ANTIQUES, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, ART, Sumatra, Timor, ARTIFACTS, Bali, Java, INDIA, Flores, Sumba, NEPAL, Savu, Roti, BABAS, Lombok, Malaysia. HOLY MEN, Nusa Tengara, New Guinea, SHAMAN, Irian Jaya, Moluccas, CONTEMPORARY ART, Tanimbar, Leti, OLD, Lembata, Alor, MINILA, Philippines, Luzon, PALAWAN, Mindanao, Sulu, BLOW GUN, Southeast Asia, Asia, NOSE RING, Asian, Burma, HAT, Myanmar, India, SWORD, Nagaland, Nepal, KNIFE, Tibet, Himalaya, MOUNTAIN, Himalayan, Assam, TRIBES, Thailand, Vietnam, YAO, Yunnan, Hainan, HMONG, China, Central Asia, ZAO, Dayak, Batak, BAG, Toraja, Naga, POLE, Chin, Li, QUIVER, Miao, Bahau, MASK, Punan, Penan, MODELED SKULL, Modang, Kayan, BRASS COIL, Kenyah, Ngaju, COILS, Kontu, Kantu, TEXTILE, Iban, Maloh, PRIEST, Tunjung, Busang, RITUAL, Aoheng, Dong Son, MYSTICAL Konyak, Tangkhul, MYSTIC, Ao, Angami, PRIMITIVE, Sema, Wancho, HAND MADE, Bontoc, B'laan, ARTIST, Bagabo, Gaddang, BULUL, Ifugao. Sculpture, BULULS, statue, mask, BOX, beadwork, bead, AUTHENTIC, textile, weaving, TRIBAL, costume, hat, WOODEN, shield, spear, WOOD, helmet, sword, BOAR, charm, fetish, FEATHERS, drum, basket, FEATHER, basketry, jewelry, SILVER, ornament, weapon, ASMAT Canoe, amulet, decoration, SCULPTURAL, architecture, architectural, SCULPTURE, longhouse, headhunter, SKULL, headhunting, shaman, TRIBAL, festival, ceremony, ceremonial, SHAMAN ritual, tattoo, HEAD HUNTER Skull, dragon, hornbill, HEADDRES, art, tribal, VIETNAM, tribe, culture, TRIBES, cultural, myth, TRIBAL, artifact, artefact, REAL, wood, stone, HAND WOVEN, cotton, metal, CAST bronze, brass, cloth, ISLAND, tropics, tropical, EQUATOR, ethnographic, EQUATORIAL, Tribal Art, Primitive Art, Ethnographic Art, Oceanic Art, Folk Art, Ethnic Cultures, AUTHENTIC Artifacts, Textiles, ANCIENT, Costumes, Sculpture, SCULPTURES, Masks, Beadwork, BEADS, Fetishes, Charms, GOLD Jewelry, Baskets, BAMBOO, Weapons, Shields, ORNATE, Indonesia, Borneo, PUPPETS, Sumatra, Sulawese, SHADOW PUPPET, Java, Bali, CAVE, Timor, Flores, ISLAND, Sumba. Lombok, VILLAGE, Molucca, Philippines, RICE TERRACE, Luzon, Mindanao, DAVID HOWARD PHOTOGRAPHY, Nepal, Burma, SACRED JOURNEY: THE GANGES TO THE HIMALAYAS, Thailand, THE LAST FILIPINO HEAD HUNTERS, Laos, Vietnam, TEN SOUTHEAST ASIAN TRIBES FROM FIVE COUNTRIES, India, Central Asia, NECKLACES, Southeast Asia, Dayak, STATUE, lban, Kayan, INK STAMP, Kenyah, Modang, FEATHERED, Bahau, Ngaju, HORSE, Batak, Toraja, NAGALAND, Naga, Dong Song. TRIBAL ART, AUTHENTIC PRIMITIVE ART, OLD ETHNOGRAPHIC ART, RARE OCEANIC ART, BEAUTIFUL FOLK ART, ETHNIC CULTURES, TRIBAL ARTIFACTS, TEXTILES, ASIAN, COSTUMES, SCULPTURE, WOOD MASKS, BEADWORK, CHARMS, FETISHES, SIVER JEWELRY BOXES, BASKETS, WEAPONS, FILIPINO SHIELDS, INDONESIA, BORNEO, ETHNOGRAPHIC, SUMATRA, SULAWESE, TRIBAL, JAVA, BALI, TRIBES, TIMOR, FLORES, ASIAN, SUMBA. LOMBOK, TRIBES, MOLUCCA, PHILIPPINES, TRIBAL, LUZON, ASIAN, MINDANAO, NEPAL, ASIA, BURMA, THAILAND, TRIBAL, LAOS, VIETNAM, TRIBES, INDIA, CENTRAL TRIBAL ASIA, ARTIFACTS, SOUTHEAST ASIA, HEAD HUNTER, DAYAK, ASIAN, IBAN, KAYAN, TRIBE, KENYAH, MODANG, TRIBAL, BAHAU, NGAJU, ASIAN, BATAK, TORAJA, TRIBE, NAGA, tribal art, ASIAN, primitive art, ASIA, ethnographic art, TRIBAL, oceanic art, ASIAN folk art, SOUTHEAST ASIA ethnic cultures, artifacts, ASIAN, textiles, costumes, VILLAGE sculpture, masks, TRIBAL beadwork, fetishes, TRIBES charms. jewelry, TRIBE, baskets, weapons, TRIBAL, shields, indonesia, ASIAN, borneo. sumatra, TRIBAL ART sulawese, java, HILL TRIBE, bali, timor, ASIAN, flores, sumba, TRIBES, lombok, molucca, BULUL STATUES philippines, luzon, ISLAND ART, mindanao, nepal, ASIA, burma, thailand, JOURNEY laos, vietnam, TRIBAL, india, central asia, TRIBE, southeast asia, OLD ART, dayak. lban, TRIBES, kayan, kenyah, ASIAN, modang, bahau, AUTHENTIC TRIBAL ART, ngaju, batak, HEADDRESS, toraja, naga, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, dong song, KALINGA, Indonesia, Indonesian, IFUGAO, Borneo, Sarawak, BONTOC, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, TRIBAL, Sumatra, Timor, ASIAN, Bali, Java, OLD TRIBAL ART

Flores, Sumba, Savu, Roti, Lombok, Malaysia. Nusa Tengara, New Guinea, Irian Jaya, Moluccas, Tanimbar, Leti, Lembata, Alor, Philippines, Luzon, Mindanao, Sulu, Southeast Asia, Asia, Asian, Burma. Myanmar, India, Nagaland, Nepal, Tibet, Himalaya, Himalayan, Assam, Thailand, Vietnam, Yunnan, Hainan, China, Central Asia, Dayak, Batak, Toraja, Naga, Chin, Li, Miao, Bahau, Punan, Penan, Modang, Kayan. Kenyah, Ngaju, Kontu, Kantu, Iban, Maloh, Tunjung, Busang, Aoheng, Dong Son, Konyak, Tangkhul, Ao, Angami, Sema, Wancho, Bontoc, B'laan, Bagabo, Gaddang, Ifugao. Sculpture, statue, mask, beadwork, bead, textile, weaving, costume, hat, shield, spear, helmet, sword, charm, fetish, drum, basket, basketry, jewelry, ornament, weapon. Canoe, amulet, decoration, architecture, architectural, longhouse, headhunter, headhunting, shaman, festival, ceremony, ceremonial, ritual, tattoo. Skull, dragon, hornbill, art, tribal, tribe, culture, cultural, myth, artifact, artefact, wood, stone, cotton, metal, bronze, brass, cloth, tropics, tropical, ethnographic, primitive, art, masks, asian, ethnographic, oceanic, folk, ethnic cultures, artifacts, Bahau, Kalimantan, indonesia, borneo, sumatra. sulawese, java, bali, timor. flores, sumba, lombok, molucca, philippines, luzon, mindanao, nepal, burma, thailand, laos, vietnam, india, central asia, southeast. dayak, lban, kayan, kenyah, modang, bahau, ngaju, batak. toraja, naga, dong song. Myanmar, Burma, Kachin, Naga, Konyak, Chin, Ao, Wancho, Thangkul, Dao, Helmet, Hat, Hornbill, Mizo, Sema, Assam, India, Mithan, Maram, Morung, Myth, Dream, Post, Pillar, Panel, Architecture, Architectural, Tusk, Hill Tribe, Sacrifice, Skull, War Path, Ritual. Spirit, Figure, Motif, Design, Ceremony, Ceremonial, Raid, Fur, Claws, Teeth, Fangs, Carving, Statue, Sculpture, Kalinga, Ifugao, Luzon, Mindanao, T'boli, Bagabo, B'laan, Sulu, Philippines, Weaving, Blouse, Skirt, Sarong, Shawl, Necklace, Bracelet, Conch Shell, Shell, Brass, Spear. Feather, House, Tradition, Traditional, Ancestor, Cloth, Ikat, Chapan, Uzbek, Asia, Turkoman, Turkamen, Dragon, Snake, Bird, Gong, Island, Indonesia, Indonesian, Borneo, Sarawak, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Timor, Bali, Java, Flores, Sumba, Savu, Roti, Lombok, Malaysia. Nusa Tengara, New Guinea, Irian Jaya, Moluccas, Tanimbar, Leti, Lembata, Alor, Philippines, Luzon, Mindanao, Sulu, Southeast Asia, Asia, Asian, Burma. Myanmar, India, Nagaland, Nepal, Tibet, Himalaya, Himalayan, Assam, Thailand, Vietnam, Yunnan, Hainan, China, Central Asia, Dayak, Batak, Toraja, Naga, Chin, Li, Miao, Bahau, Punan, Penan, Modang, Kayan. Kenyah, Ngaju, Kontu, Kantu, Iban, Maloh, Tunjung, Busang, Aoheng, Dong Son, Konyak, Tangkhul, Ao, Angami, Sema, Wancho, Bontoc, B'laan, Bagabo, Gaddang, Ifugao. Sculpture, statue, mask, beadwork, bead, textile, weaving, costume, hat, shield, spear, helmet, sword, charm, fetish, drum, basket, basketry, jewelry, ornament, weapon. Canoe, amulet, decoration, architecture, architectural, longhouse, headhunter, headhunting, shaman, festival, ceremony, ceremonial, ritual, tattoo. Skull, dragon, hornbill, art, tribal, tribe, culture, cultural, myth, artifact, artefact, wood, stone, Indonesia, Indonesian, Borneo, Sarawak, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Timor, Bali, Java, Flores, Sumba, Savu, Roti, Lombok, Malaysia. Nusa Tengara, New Guinea, Irian Jaya, Moluccas, Tanimbar, Leti, Lembata, Alor, Philippines, Luzon, Mindanao, Sulu, Southeast Asia, Asia, Asian, Burma. Myanmar, India, Nagaland, Nepal, Tibet, Himalaya, Himalayan, Assam, Thailand, Vietnam, Yunnan, Hainan, China, Central Asia, Dayak, Batak, Toraja, Naga, Chin, Li, Miao, Bahau, Punan, Penan, Modang, Kayan. Kenyah, Ngaju, Kontu, Kantu, Iban, Maloh, Tunjung, Busang, Aoheng, Dong Son, Konyak, Tangkhul, Ao, Angami, Sema, Wancho, Bontoc, B'laan, Bagabo, Gaddang, Ifugao. Sculpture, statue, mask, beadwork, bead, textile, weaving, costume, hat, shield, spear, helmet, sword, charm, fetish, drum, basket, basketry, jewelry, ornament, weapon. Canoe, amulet, decoration, architecture, architectural, longhouse, headhunter, headhunting, shaman, festival, ceremony, ceremonial, ritual, tattoo. Skull, dragon, hornbill, art, tribal, tribe, culture, cultural, myth, artifact, artefact, wood, stone, cotton, metal, bronze, brass, cloth, tropics, tropical, ethnographic.

Japan, Japanese, shrine, Masks, tsuba, kabuto, mempo, Dayak, Indonesian, sculpture, Indian Cola, Tibetan Thanka, Batak. Timor, Nias, African, Oceanic, Philippines, Luzon, Ifagao, Batak, Dyak, Nias, Bul'ul, artifacts, authentic, antique, asian, asia, expert, dealer, sell, buy, Los Angeles, California, JAPAN, JAPANESE. SHRINE, MASKS, TSUBA, KABUTO, MEMPO, DAYAK. INDONESIAN, SCULPTURE, INDIAN COLA, TIBETAN THANKA, BATAK, TIMOR, NIAS, AFRICAN, OCEANIC. PHILIPPINES, LUZON, IFAGAO, BATAK, DYAK, NIAS, BUL'UL, ARTIFACTS, AUTHENTIC, ANTIQUE, ASIAN, ASIA, EXPERT, DEALER, SELL, BUY, Japan, Japanese, Shrine, Masks, Tsuba, Kabuto, Mempo, Dayak, Indonesian, Sculpture. Indian Cola, Tibetan Thanka, Batak, Timor, Nias, African, Oceanic, Philippines, Luzon, Ifagao, Batak, Dyak, Nias, Bul'ul, Artifacts, Authentic, Antique, Asian, Asia, Expert, Dealer, Sell, Buy, japan, japanese, shrine, masks, tsuba, kabuto, mempo, dayak, indonesian, sculpture, indian cola, tibetan thanka, batak, timor, nias, african, oceanic, philippines, luzon, ifagao, batak, dyak, nias, bul'ul, artifacts, authentic, antique, asian, asia