A totem pole removed from an Indigenous burial site more than a century ago and kept on display in a Canadian museum has been repatriated to the Nuxalk Nation.
More than 100 Nuxalkmc traveled more than 600 miles from Bella Coola, British Columbia, to Victoria to reclaim their totem pole from the Royal BC Museum on Monday and bring it back to its rightful home.
As the totem pole was lifted out of the museum and lowered to the ground, its first time returning to Mother Earth, Nuxalkmc sang the Thunder Song -- followed by women blessing and reawakening the totem's spirit.
"We all cried when it landed on the ground," Nuxalk Hereditary Chief Deric Snow told CNN. "It was the feeling when your emotions reach the highest point of your life. I've never dreamed we would be able to do this."
Bird, Tiger, Serpents and a Pair of Antlers: Warring States Art Device
Another remarkable sur of the pre-Taoist period.
The sculptural group is dominated by a mighty Bird, whose wings are complemented by antlers. Some have rashly classified it as the Phoenix, according to another version it is a Crane. However, I would warn against light-minded ornithological typing. The thumbnail Tiger serves as a pedestal for the Bird, pressing two serpentine bodies with its paws. The coiled snakes are devouring a pair of fliers.
The artifact may turn out to be a drum stand common at the time. Other figurines of antlered birds standing on tigers are known. This common motif unites the spiritual animals of the Lower and Upper Worlds. The amalgamous zoomorphic imagery is probably of shamanic origin.
Antlered and winged beings were also a widespread pattern in depiction of the zhenmushou (鎮墓獸), tomb guardians. The solemn or ferocious creatures served as the owner's spiritual animals in the afterlife and guides on the ascent to Heavens.
The entire lacquered wood sculpture group is painted black with subtle gold and red ornamentation. The object was unearthed from the Tomb No. 1 in Jiuliandun (九連墩1號墓), Zaoyang, Hubei. Now it is in Hubei Provincial Museum (湖北省族館).
Tasmania National Park is a popular rock climbing area famous for its igneous dolerite pillars. These rare hexagonal pillars were formed when the extruding magma cooled over a short span of time.
Tasmania National Park is a popular rock climbing area famous for its igneous dolerite pillars. These rare hexagonal pillars were formed when the extruding magma cooled over a short span of time.