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Portfolio Category: Bone

Little bone zemi with skull head

Little bone zemi with skull head
The Taíno placed strong importance on ancestor worship. They believed in afterlife and great care was given to the dead. Skull designs represent dead ancestors. Zemies who represented ancestors were objects of great power and were perceived as supernatural beings who could help the person who possessed them.
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Amulets

Amulets
Taino craftspeople regarding shell and bone. Their techniques are matched only by those of the Inuit carvers in Alaska. These Objects often appear to have ritual functions. They obtained the raw material from fishing and sea gathering activities because the ground fauna was poor and humans bones were seldom used.
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Double vomiting stick made of bone

Double vomiting stick made of bone
A special object, part of the Cohoba ritual, carved from bone and curved to fit down the throat to help the shaman purge himself. Vomiting accompanied large fasting to help the Cohoba to increase the effect. If inappropriate food was eaten, the shaman would not be able to travel and communicate with the spirits. Inhaling…
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