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Mursi tribe lip plates, decorations & the milieu
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Mursi tribe lip plates, decorations & the milieu
Dec 07, 2012, 01:11
The Mursi culture of southern Ethiopia has a (world famous) tradition of piercing women's lower lips to insert a plate which they feel makes them more beautiful . Often these plates are plain disks, but where they are embellished or holed the patterns look ancient and can suggest elements of the British Isles' archaeological milieu . Some links :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/4432246262/in/set-72157608644175542 ; This one shows twin rings with a joining cairn-like buckle and what may be symbols for the sun and moon.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/3067936867/in/set-72157608644175542 ; Another look at the above.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/3039903103/in/set-72157608644175542 ; A very similar lip plate.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/3393893459/in/set-72157608644175542 ; A radial pattern involving a small central ring and U shapes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/3069827069/in/set-72157608644175542 ; A small ring surrounded by double-rings and U shapes in a five-fold symmetry.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/4988902117/in/set-72157608644175542 ; A holed plate worn by a beautiful young woman.

Note also her earring's resemblance to a traditional shield design, (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/7821617902/in/photostream), and/or British bell barrows.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/5363405154/in/set-72157608644175542 ; A holed plate with U shapes in a six-fold symmetry.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/6177659807/in/set-72157608644175542 ; A mixture of designs including U shapes and dots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/6452781293/in/set-72157608644175542 ; Another look at same.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/6177656057/in/set-72157608644175542 ; One covered with dots.

It is striking how much the African tribes use dots . These could be fore-runners of cupmarks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/4963729041/in/set-72157608644175542 ; A girl of the Surma tribe with an earring showing concentric circles.

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