Women of the Burmese Kayan Lahwi tribe

Four women and a young baby from the Kayan Lahwi tribe, a group of the Karenni people of Burma (Myanmar). Women of the various Kayan tribes identify themselves by their different form of dress. The Kayan Lahwi tribe are the most renowned as they wear ornaments known as neck rings, brass coils that are placed around the neck. These coils are first applied to young girls when they are around five years old. Each coil is replaced with longer coils as the weight of the brass pushes the collar bone down and compresses the rib cage. Contrary to popular belief, the neck is not actually lengthened; the illusion of a stretched neck is created by the deformation of the clavicle

Burmese Coils Deformation Deformed Kayan Knees Myanmar Necked Ornament Ornamentation Ornaments Stretch Stretched Stretching Traditonal

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