Bongo cemetery with carvings

103 x 75 mm | Negative film nitrate

There are records relating to alternative images that we do not have scans for in the database:
1998.343.27.2 - (103 x 75 mm)

Date of Print:

Unknown

Previous PRM Number:

EP.B.27

Accession Number:

1998.343.27.1

Description:

A carving of the likeness of a deceased person with tally notches beneath showing the numbers of large animals killed by the person buried beneath. Evans-Pritchard mentions that the Bongo no longer surrounded their graves with a stake fence to contain a stone grave mound, but that it was the normal practice for their Belanda neighbours.

Photographer:

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Date of Photo:

1929 March

Region:

[Southern Sudan] El Buheyrat

Group:

?Belanda

PRM Source:

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Acquired:

Donated 1966

Other Owners:

E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection

Class:

Death , Carving

Keyword:

Grave , Grave Marker , Memorial , Fence

Primary Documentation:

PRM Accession Records - Accession Book Entry [p. 98] 1966.27 [1 - 24] G[ift] PROFESSOR E. E. EVANS-PRITCHARD; INST. OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 51 BANBURY RD. OXFORD - 1966.27.19 - S. SUDAN, DARFUNG. VARIOUS TRIBES. Box of negatives in envelopes, [1 - 242] & 1966.27.20 - Box of prints of these negatives [refers to object 1966.27.19] [1 - 242], in envelopes.

Other Information:

In "The Bongo" (Sudan Notes and Records Vol.XII Part I 1929 page 34) E. E. Evans-Pritchard notes that 'My informants admitted the truth of Schweinfurth's statement that in the old days a heap of stones in a cylindrical form was erected over the grave, and that this was supported by a circle of strong stakes (XII, i, 303). But this is no longer practised to-day, because say the Bongo, the white ants eat the stakes and, in consequence, the heap of stones falls down, so they gave it up and simply build a pile of stones instead. The old stake-supported grave, called roti in Bongo, is still to be seen amongst the neighbouring Bellanda (Bor) amongst whom it is the normal grave-form. In this type of grave the stakes are erected first and the stone heap is piled within the circuit.' [Chris Morton 16/1/2004]

Recorder:

Christopher Morton 16/1/2004 [Southern Sudan Project]