Living Skeletons of the Chimbu Tribe: Ancient Fear Embodied in Colors (8 photos)

In the dense forests of Papua New Guinea, where time seems to stand still, live the mysterious Chimbu tribe. Their ancient battle ritual could inspire the darkest Hollywood thrillers: warriors turn themselves into walking skeletons with the help of ghostly white paint.





Their faces resemble X-rays - as if there is no flesh under the skin, only bones...

The photographer who revealed the secret



The unique shots of this amazing ritual were taken by Pongtarin Thantasindhu - an amateur photographer who grew up in Thailand, and now based in Toronto.

The shoot was a real challenge, admits Pongtarin. - The warriors were constantly moving in a ritual dance, and I was trying to catch the perfect light and angle. But it is this energy that makes the shots so alive.

Why do they do this?





As the photographer explains, the intimidating appearance is an ancient martial art of psychological influence:

It is their version of war paint - like the North American Indians. It is difficult to say how effective it was, but imagine: the enemy must have been terrified when he first saw such “living dead”.

Secrets of the ritual



the art of intimidation — the patterns exactly repeat the outlines of the bones, creating the effect of a “walking skeleton”;

natural pigments — a mixture of clay, chalk and minerals gives that very eerie white color;

dancing as part of the ritual — the movements enhance the mystical effect.

Uniqueness of the footage



The Chimbu tribe was discovered in 1934, but remains one of the most closed communities:

Catastrophically little is known about them. It is this veil of secrecy that makes their culture so attractive. My goal is to show the world the wealth and mystery of the Papuan tribes.

The Modern Life of an Ancient Ritual



Today, the "skeleton" paint is used not in battles, but during a six-day festival in Mount Hagen, where representatives of 60 tribes gather. This is a vivid example of how warrior traditions are transformed into cultural heritage.

When you see it with your own eyes, you understand that in front of you is not just a paint job, but living history. History that is gradually disappearing.



Interestingly, this type of war paint has analogues in other cultures. For example, North American Indians also used bright patterns on their faces before battles to intimidate the enemy.

In the case of the Chimbu, the effect was similar: warriors who encountered these "skeletons" for the first time probably experienced a mixture of fear and surprise. How effective was this tactic? It is difficult to say for sure, but one thing can be said with certainty: the spectacle was impressive.



These striking images are more than just expressive pictures. They serve as a reminder of the fragility of unique cultures and the importance of preserving them. Each such ritual is like a page of an ancient book. And if we do not have time to read it, it will disappear forever.