Scary of smoked mummies on the cliff

For centuries, Anga tribes in Papua New Guinea's Morobe plateau have made an extremely creepy mummification technique by smoking.

After smoking, the mummies are not buried in the tombs, instead, they are placed on the steep cliffs to see the villages below. The spectacle of a series of red corpses hanging on the cliffs is frightening and quite ridiculous, but for Anga people, it is the highest form to show respect to the deceased.

Smoked corpses hanging on the cliffs of Papua New Guinea's Morobe plateau date back to hundreds of years

The process of embalming is done carefully and thoroughly by experienced people. First, the body's knees, elbows and feet are cut off so that body fat is completely released. Then, the bamboo poles are poked through the dead body and the fat excreted from the body is used to rub the bodies of living relatives. Through this ritual, the power of the deceased is said to be transferred to those who live. The remaining fat is used as a cooking oil.

In the next stage, the eyes, mouth and anus of the corpse are sewn to restrict air into the body and prevent decaying flesh. This is considered an important step to ensure the mummy is perfect over the centuries. The soles, tongues, and palms are also cut and delivered to a living spouse. The rest of the corpse was then thrown into the fire.

After being smoked, mummies are covered with clay and red soil, forming a natural cocoon, protecting the body from decay and scavengers. The process of mummification is complete and the mummy is ready to hang on the cliff.

All men, women and even Anga babies are mummified in the same way. Mummies dating back at least 200 years are still found in the present Morobe plateau. In the days of death or important events, mummies can be taken down from the cliff, then hung up soon after.

The Anga mummification ceremony was banned in 1975 when Papua New Guinea gained independence. Now, many tribes perform Christian rituals, and only a few tribes in remote areas still carry out their macabre mummy rituals.