Toraja Tree Burials For Infants

On the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the Toraja people have traditionally practiced a unique burial ritual for babies who die before they begin teething. The infant is placed inside a cavity carved into a living tree, and the opening is sealed with woven fibers. As the tree continues to grow and heal, it gradually closes over the burial site, symbolically absorbing the child back into nature. Over time, a single tree may contain the remains of dozens of infants who were interred in this way.

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