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Kaku-an

LOCAL NAME:

Kaku-an

ENGLISH NAME:

Wooden Pail for pig swill

DESCRIPTION:

Ifugao: Kaku-an
A wooden pail for pig swill with metal plates covering its rim and base. Thin nylon ropes are attached near its rim to hold the wooden handle.

COMMONLY USED BY/IN:

Ifugao

MATERIAL COMPOSITION:

Wood, Metal, Nylon rope

ITEM CONSTRUCTION:

Woodcarving, Metalworking

DIMENSIONS:

Height:
24.7 cm

Diameter:
19 cm

ACQUISITION YEAR:

2021

DISPLAY STATUS:

BURC

RESEARCH DATA:

Pigs are considered the most important ritual animal in Ifugao ceremonies (Lapeña & Acabado, 2017). According to Lapeña and Acabado (2017), the Ifugao commonly raise and use two types of pigs: the domesticated (Sus scrofa) and the wild (Sus philippensis). These pigs are typically raised in a semi-wild system, where they are allowed to roam freely within a fenced area. Pails, such as the one in this collection, are called kaku-an and were used to store pig swill until there was enough to pour into troughs.

REFERENCES:

Lapeña, Q. G., & Acabado, S. B. (2017). Resistance through rituals: The role of Philippine “native pig”(Sus scrofa) in Ifugao feasting and socio-political organization. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 13, 583-594.

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