Carved Taino Shaman from Dominican Republic

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This is a carving of an ancient Taino shaman figurine. The Taino are the original inhabitants of the Caribbean islands. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the dominant population of most of Cuba, Trinidad, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico. Taino shamans and spirituality played a central role in their culture, and these figurines are emblematic of that culture. This carving depicts a typical 'holy man', or shaman, in a squatting position, with the hollowed portions showcasing a stylized depiction of self-mortification due to fasting for spiritual enlightenment. This carving is crafted from Guayacan wood, which is considered the hardest wood in the world and will easily sink in water. Guayacan wood carvings are extremely popular souvenirs from the Dominican Republic. This unique piece was hand-made by a local craftsman in the early 2000s during an archaeological expedition near Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. If you decide to print this carving, please post a photo and check out my other designs featuring skulls and bones at http://www.thingiverse.com/dricketts/designs. Don't forget to "Like" my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FetalReproductions for the latest prints and blogs, and visit my Etsy page at http://Etsy.com/FetalReproductions for a wide range of baby fetal scans, skulls, and other unique items to own.