the ambum stone

Ambum Valley

Location in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea

Country where the Ambum Stone was found.

1500 BCE

Approximate date of the Ambum Stone's creation.

Greywacke

Hard stone used for carving the Ambum Stone.

Function

Uncertain; possibly a pestle or ceremonial item.

Pestle

Tool for grinding materials, long neck and rounded bottom.

Ceremonial Cycle

Amb Kor, dedicated to a female spirit.

Enga People

Indigenous group that valued the Ambum Stone.

Bones of the Ancestors

Name given to stone objects by Enga people.

Anteater Embryo

Possible representation in fetal position of the sculpture.

Fruit Bat Resemblance

Nose resembles a fruit bat in the sculpture.

Juvenile Long-beaked Echidna

Most believed identity of the Ambum Stone.

Detail and Refinement

Ambum Stone exhibits more detail than regional artworks.

Carving Process

Took many months to chip and finish the stone.

Animal Form

Sculpture features rounded body, long neck, and curved head.

Ritual Mechanisms

Objects used in rituals where ancestors were believed to reside.

Stone Tools

Instruments used for chipping away at greywacke.

Carved Stones

Many artworks from Pacific depict animals and humans.

12 Similar Artifacts

Other artifacts found that resemble the Ambum Stone.