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Preservation of the works of art
In the past, Asmat carvings and especially ancestor poles were created in connection with ritual ceremonies, such as the construction of a jeu or the preparation to a war or headhunting raid. The sculptures represented deceased members of the village or warriors to be commemorated. Often the carving was done on softwood and thrown in the jungle once the ceremony terminated, so as to destroy their energy and supernatural power.
As a consequence, the carving did not have the possibility to become old and remain intact. Relatively old sculptures do exist, but were carved in a period when the traditional rituals had become rare. The oldest were collected and preserved by the foreign missionaries or traders.
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