New market, Wamena (Papua Barat, Indonesia). In the Dani tradition every mourning women had to amputate a falange!

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It makes my heart sink when i saw this. Tradition is so scary.

Wow! What was the purpose of this tradition?

I really wonder. Nobody was able to explain me!

I agree with Spencer. Antropologists may be able to answer to what extent should missionaries etc intrude on the natives way of life. It seems weird to be able to say 'this woman is one of the lucky ones', which she probably was, given the sort of (un)hygeinic conditions the amputating would have been taken place in. An interesting picture especially with showing her obviously western style T-shirt. This photo definitely shows a change round the corner. Powerful.

Most interesting picture , for sure , but, Lucy , while it may be a western style T-shirt, it seems to have 'ZIHHAD' (Jihad?) printed on it...