Small Terracotta, Bura Culture

Very little is known about the Bura culture from the Niger River Valley in Burkina Faso. What we do know is that these phallic-shaped vessels would be used to hold belongings of the deceased to be taken into the afterlife, and would be placed open-side-down.

They are decorated with textured geometric designs and sometimes faces. This piece is made of unglazed terracotta.