On the Sepik River, large ceremonial houses called tamberans were built for men's initiations, secret ceremonies, and other male gatherings held apart from the rest of the community. Tamberans were decorated inside and out with paintings and carvings depicting ancestors and clan totems. On this lintel, the central figure represents a clan ancestor, the crocodile and boar heads at either end are animal totems, and the eight headless figures depict head-hunting victims slain on raids made by the clan.

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