Baby Tree | Tana Toraja | Indonesia

A culture with such unique burial customs also has a special treatment for children. Unlike adults, who are placed inside a stone chamber, sometimes after several years, children are immediately buried within a living tree behind doors constructed out of palm leaves. Only trees with white sap, symbolizing a mother's milk, are chosen for this special task. The particular jackfruit tree that we visited was last used in 1937. A family's status determines the number of pegs that are used in sealing the door (more pegs equals higher status). Twins are also buried together, behind a double door. In contrast to the other burial sites that we visited, this place was very somber, secluded and private.