Bura Phallic Funerary Terracotta Urn

The Bura Asinda-Sikka culture, c. 200-1200AD, Niger or Burkina Faso, West Africa.

This unusual, rare, and small-sized Bura funerary vessel, crafted in an ovoid, phalliform form, reflects the intriguing burial practices of the ancient Bura-Asinda-Sikka culture. Such vessels were buried with their openings facing downward, a ritualistic tradition whose full meaning remains shrouded in mystery.

The Bura culture, dating from the 3rd to the 13th century AD, is linked to a network of archaeological sites in the lower Niger River valley of present-day Niger and Burkina Faso. The most significant of these, the necropolis of Bura-Asinda-Sikka, was discovered accidentally in 1975 northwest of Niamey, Niger's capital, and excavated in the early 1980s.

Despite limited knowledge of this enigmatic civilization, Bura terracotta artifacts are highly distinctive, characterized by tubular and oval-shaped urns, round or semi-ovoid pots, and sculptural depictions of standing figures, mounted horsemen, or stylized heads. The heads are often flat with striking simplicity, adorned with longitudinal relief bulges. Other urns feature only abstract anthropomorphic details such as eyes, coiffures, and noses, while some incorporate phallic and breast motifs, likely symbolizing fertility or ancestral veneration.

The Bura people, believed to be sedentary agriculturists, buried their dead in large, upright urns, which were placed upside down and clustered together. These vessels contained human remains, primarily skulls, alongside textiles, iron arrowheads, and ritual offerings of cooked food—suggesting deep spiritual and ceremonial traditions.

This exceptional piece offers a rare glimpse into one of West Africa’s most fascinating ancient cultures and represents a highly collectible artifact of significant historical and artistic value.

Good condition. Age-related wear, chip and abrasion. Rich earthen deposits. Size approx. 14,0cm x 8,1cm x 4,9cm.

Provenance: Dutch private collection.

References and further reading:

Bura Funerary Urns: Niger Terracottas: An Interpretive Limbo?, Michelle Gilbert, African Arts, The MIT Press, Vol. 53, No.1, Spring 2020, pp. 66-75.

Earth and Ore: 2500 Years of African Art in Terra-cotta and Metal, Karl-Ferdinand Schädler, Panterra, January 1, 1997.

Un "Village des Morts" à Bura en Republique du Niger', Boube Gado, in J. Devisse (ed.), Vallées du Niger, Paris: Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 1993, pp. 365-74.

One Hundred Years of Archaeology in Niger, Anne C. Haour, Journal of World Prehistory, Vol.17. No.2, June 2003, pp. 181-234.