Door of a tomb (tutu'liang) with human figure

In the mountainous central region of the island of Sulawesi live the agricultural peoples who have been collectively called Toraja, "men of the mountains," or "men dwelling in the interior." In the high valleys, the Sa'dan Toraja grow rice, their primary staple and a plant of great religious significance; they also raise water buffalo and pigs, which they sacrifice on ceremonial occasions. They build striking noble houses with boat-shaped roofs and carved and painted facades -- the "tongkonan" that represents the cosmos in miniature and is the focus of ritual life. And in keeping with their traditional belief system -- "aluk to dolo," "the ways of the ancestors" -- they honor their dead with spectacular funerals.

Since the seventeenth century, the Da'dan Toraja people have buried their elite dead in vaults chiseled in the face of steep limestone cliffs -- "the house from which no smoke rises." Hardwood doors carved with an image of the head of the prestigious water buffalo or, less frequently, a human figure, seal the tombs and protect their contents. On this example, a serene yet powerful figure emerges from a field of interlocking scrolls. Elaborate tattoos cover the torso and stylized arms. Once the mark of the most successful Toraja warrior, these tattoos and the knot of hair atop the head suggest warrior status for the figure and for the occupant of the tomb.

"Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection," page 65