Pole with buffalo horns in front of traditional Toraja house - Sulawesi island, Indonesia.

The buffalo horns, on traditional houses like this one, are the "leftovers" - memorials - of funeral feasts and "feasts of merit" in which numerous buffaloes were sacrificed, whose horns decorate the houses today. The more horns, the more buffaloes were sacrificed, and the more important and respected the family is.

The horns (of previously sacrificed buffaloes) are typically displayed staked on a pole in front of the house.

The buffalo horns are also convenient hooks to attach or hang things!

See more photos and info in the Toraja Tongkonan Traditional Houses photo album..

See more information about the Toraja People in the Tana Toraja photo album.