The Dani tribe - one of the most populous in the Highlands of West Papau, Indonesia - are known for their macabre traditions and unusual customs.
The 'Dani' tribe lived uncontacted by the outside world until 1938, when they were accidentally discovered tucked away in the Highlands of West Papua, Indonesia .
Here, MailOnline takes a look into the 250,000-strong tribe's traditions and practices that sees babies having their fingers bitten off by their mothers and members smoking the ashes of their ancestors. Upon attending the funeral of a child or family member, Dani women will cut off the top of their finger as they believe the practice will both gratify and drive away spirits.
Another option is to tie up the joints in order to stop the blood flowing to the area, leading to the death of muscles and nerves due to oxygen deprivation until the dead part of the finger naturally falls off the bone. Some members cut off the ears too, while others smear themselves in river sludge for a week without taking a bath as this means the dead have returned to nature, the Guardian Nigeria News reported.
Mothers within the tribe have been known to bite their children's fingers in half, in the belief that it will increase their lifespan. He guards the corpse, which is decorated with pig tusks, a feathered headpiece, and a traditional penis gourd, and lays in a hut called a 'honai'. 'We must protect our culture, including the ceremonies for the mummy, the way we treat it, and maintain and fire for it,' Eli told AFP.
Eli said the exact age of Agat Mamete Mabel was not known, but told AFP this ancestor was the last of the village to receive such a funeral. Members of the tribe would traditionally wear very little, but the Koteka has long been an important item of clothing for the Dani men. According to scholars, the shape of the Koteka indicates social status among tribesmen, with curved Kotekas being worn by people with the most influence.
In this photo taken on August 9, 2016, Dani tribeswomen participate in the 27th annual Baliem Valley Festival in Walesi district in Wamena, Papua ProvinceIn the past, missionaries have tried to persuade West Papua's tribes to ditch the Koteka in favour of western clothes. Three Men from the Dani cut wood as they prepare to burn stones at Obia Village on August 9, 2014 in Wamena, PapuaIn general, the pig plays a large part of the Dani culture.
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