Azaghvana E-Book 2003 - Flipbook - Page 293
thala, which is also visible on the granary (E). The 'stomach' of thala has two eyes or breasts
(H) which forms part of a decorative pattern with anthropomorphic elements. Similar adobe
plaster decorations were also found on the walls of the lower kitchen (above kitchen entry C).
Plate 25b shows
the view from
where Buba was
sitting. We can
see the end of the
row of sitting
stones (A) in front
of the ancestor
stones (B). They
are part of tab
hupala, with the
open 'bed' of thala
now being visible
from the front (C).
We also see the
granary for the
children (D) at the
end, as well as the
entrance to the
upper kitchen (E)
behind the 'bed' of thala. To the left, we can see the wall of the room for a firstborn child (F),
which also played a role during the marriage ceremony (Chapter 3.20). We see the fish
pattern and the eye or breast applications marking the decorated front of the 'stomach' of thala
(G). John said that the 'bed' of thala was a bed for a child or young person, who slept there in
the past, directly next to the 'stomach' of thala. We also notice the row of wooden posts for
the support of gaÉ—ike, the flat roof (H) which covered the whole of the foyer area.
Plate 25b: Buba's view towards 'bed' of thala and upper kitchen area
Plate 25c: Buba stands next to ancestor stones
Plate 25c shows Buba in front of his 'bed'
of thala, looking towards the lower
kitchen. We see his ancestor stones,
representing his father (dada), then his
grandfather (jije) and great grandfather
(wuje), all at the inner foot of his
'stomach' of thala. Above we see again
the eye or breast applications as well as
the fish pattern etched on the adobe
plaster which once covered the
foundations of both house shrine (thala)
elements.
By comparing the heights of foundations
of the 'bed' and the 'stomach' of thala, we
can see that they are the same height. The
top of the actual bed was originally also
covered with adobe plaster. We recognise
that the overall height of both thala
elements is almost Buba's height. There
is about 40cm of space left between the
upper rim of thala and the ceiling of the
flat roof. We see the wooden post Buba is
touching, which is positioned at the
bottom of the gap between the two thala
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