Image title: Figure 4.5.28: Thod rnga at the Pitt Rivers Museum

[Figure 4.5.28]—Thod rnga at the Pitt Rivers Museum (1941.8.199) likely acquired in Sikkim by the archaeologist A.J. Evans, with selective pest damage in the red wool on the waist and handle of the drum, September 2017.

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These plates originate from the study “On the use of Human remains in Tibetan ritual objects” by Ayesha Fuentes. This dissertation examines the cultural history and material applications of human remains in Tibetan rituals, utilizing conservation, technical art history, and anthropology. It focuses on skulls, bone ornaments, and the rkang gling trumpet, investigating their use in Buddhist tantra and contemporary practices, while establishing a framework for understanding their evolving significance.