Tawali Skull Cave

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| name = Skull Cave

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| location = near Bilubilu, Alotau, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

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Tawali Skull Cave is a karst cave located near Bilubilu, Alotau, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. The cave receives its name from an ancient native practice: when revered or beloved people die, they would be buried upright with a clay pot placed over their head. When the head was able to be separated from the rest of the skeleton, the skull was taken and lain in the cave as a show of respect. Many such "skull caves" exist throughout the country. The cave is located near East Cape, the country's easternmost mainland point.http://www.showcaves.com/english/misc/index.html ShowCaves The entrance and descent is rickety and tough to negotiate, and the path leading to the cave is dense, so a guide is necessary to access the cave.http://www.indopacificimages.com/index.php/papua-new-guinea-2/papua-new-guinea-milne-bay-tawali-skull-caves/ IndoPacific Images