Archaeology of organic heritage: living-deads amongst the Pochury Nagas

Abstract

This paper outlines the ritual Nyiehzakhuo kuthou [the hanging of Nyiaza’s basket] of the Pochury Nagas of Anyuwie. This ritual is an annual propitiation of ancestors (living-dead) with food offerings in lieu of fertility, harvest, health, prosperity and good fortune. The combination of the ritual’s carefully crafted paraphernalia and observed taboos highlight the deep connection the Pochury Nagas maintain with their ancestors. This study explores the challenges stemming from the delicate nature of organic heritage, to the degree that indigenous archaeology can preserve not just the ritual but the worldview it represents. The “curious” aspect here is how living-deads, who seem dormant, neglected or insignificant in a community’s history, intersect with the everyday lives of the people.