Mutya or Batu (Belly Rock)
Text
Spherical black stone, highly polished by water erosion, with a small protrusion on top resembling a belly button. Worn in a rattan belt tied around the waist and used in medicinal ceremonies to cure ailments such as headaches.
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Map Pitt Rivers Museum
Metadata
Date
Before 1945
(Date collected 1939-1945)
(Date collected 1939-1945)
Rights
Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford
Identifier
2023.28.2
Origin
Mangyan
Materials
Material Stone, Process Polished
Physical Dimensions
Diameter: max 50 mm, Height: max 40 mm
Provenance
Maker Unknown Maker
Field collector Edward Shearman Ross
PRM source Sandra Miller Ross
PRM source Edward Shearman Ross
Field collector Edward Shearman Ross
PRM source Sandra Miller Ross
PRM source Edward Shearman Ross
Acquisition Date
Donated: 12/09/2021
Short description
Edward Shearman Ross PhD was a Commanding Officer and entomologist of an Army Malaria Survey Unit on Mindoro during World War II. He made frequent trips into the mountains and jungle to collect mosquitos, Embioptera and other insects, and make tropical disease surveys. He befriended indigenous Mangyan hunter-gatherer families of Indonesian descent, trading rice, salt, and red cloth, and receiving bows and arrows, baskets, pink bananas, small ornaments, and these Belly Rocks. Belly Rocks are heavy, shiny, round, black stones called mutya. Found swirling in rock holes at the base of waterfalls and in rapids, they must be "caught alive". It takes great skill to catch these stones while they are whirling. The successful person may practice the art of healing, blowing over them through a clenched fist. It is believed a spirit lives in the stones and the person that possesses a stone has the power of that spirit literally in their hands. They are referred to as Belly Rocks because of the protrusion which looks like a belly button. Lucky owners wear their Belly Rocks in a rattan belt around their waist. These particular rocks were likely collected about 100 years ago. Information provided by the donors, Drs Edward and Sandra Ross.
Display status
Not on display
References
"Mangyan Memories" in Pacific Discovery: California Academy of Sciences, Volume 21, Number 5.. Edward Shearman Ross, Main author
1968. Page: 181. Page illustrated:. Catalogue number: Notes:
1968. Page: 181. Page illustrated:. Catalogue number: Notes:
Official Website
Collection
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“Mutya or Batu (Belly Rock),” Mapping Philippine Material Culture, accessed April 29, 2024, https://philippinestudies.uk/mapping/items/show/30529.
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