Naga Identities: Changing Local Cultures in the Northeast of India

The Naga peoples inhabit the southeastern foothills of the Himalayas between India and Burma. Living in virtual isolation from the outside world until about 150 years ago, they developed a highly particular material culture and oral tradition. With period maps dating from the 1500s to present day together with more than 270 colour plates, this extensive study explores the culture of a people known for their architecture, sculpture, wood carving, bodily ornaments, drums, and textiles. Objects and artifacts shown come from the extensive collections of the Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford, Museum fur Volkerkunde in Vienna, and Museum der Kulturen in Basel. 326 colour 108 b/w illustrations