Double circle wood carving, Taokas tribe

This wood carving was used by a shaman of the Taokas tribe. This carving was one third remained because the other two third were disappeared when the owner Hsieh family divided their household and property. The double circle pattern was first discovered on a gravestone in Yuanli Township of Miaoli County. Later the same pattern was found on an ancestor gravestone of the Hsieh family in Houlong Township, and in several places in Tongxiao Township of Miaoli County. This pattern shows similarities to the patterns of the Paiwan and Atayal tribes. However, the exact same pattern is not found among any of the other indigenous tribes. This wood carving is assumed a religious object of the Taokas.