Toraja Tree Burial (Passiliran pia) for Young Infants - Sulawesi Island, Indonesia

Young Toraja children are buried in trees: If a child dies before he has started teething, the baby is wrapped in cloth and placed inside a hollowed out space within the trunk of a growing tree, and covered over with a palm fiber door. The hole is then sealed and as the tree begins to heal, the child is believed to be absorbed.

Unfortunately this particular tree died (maybe because of too many graves in it), so the babies buried in its trunk will never be fully absorbed by the tree.

See more info and photos of Toraja burial sites in the Toraja burial sites photo album.

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