Photo. Inside a Spirit Houses near Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea.
In the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, spirit houses are more than buildings. I visited several near Mount Hagen, in the rich farmlands of the Wahgi Valley, where culture feels close to the ground and very much alive.
These spirit houses stand quietly but carry weight. Carved figures watch from their walls, and in the past, some were marked with skulls to honour ancestors and spirits. They are places where the living stay in touch with those who came before.
Pigs play a central role here. They are not just animals, and not only used for exchange and payment, but symbols of wealth, respect, and spiritual connection. Ceremonies, exchanges, and social ties often revolve around them. In the Wahgi Valley, spirit houses and pigs together tell a simple truth: land, people, animals, and ancestors are all part of the same living world.
Stein Morten Lund, October 1999, updated January 2026
E-mail this
Print this
