Physical Details
- Type
- pottery
- Material
- river clay, pearl inlay, hammered copper bands
- Era
- 2800 BCE
- Condition
- Reconstructed
- Dimensions
- 45cm H × 32cm W × 32cm D
- Weight
- 4200g
- Catalog #
- APO-2026-00007
legendaryAPO-2026-00007
Great Mother's River Burial Urn
The most elaborate Vorrashi burial vessel ever recovered. The twelve repeated double-wave motifs and seven pearls inside suggest this urn held the remains of a Great Mother — the supreme leader of the twelve clans. The pearl arrangement mirrors constellation patterns visible in the southern sky.
Ritual Inscription (Oral Tradition)
Mu va noi te ni shi we va ve lo ni va vai si
/mu va noi te ni ʃi we va ve lo ni va vai si/
Translation
“The ancient Mother River gives her children pearls, yet the river carries the child's vessel — into the deep water she dives.”
Interlinear Analysis(click to expand)
| Form | Gloss | POS |
|---|---|---|
| Mu | mother/source/origin | noun |
| va | water/river/flow-of-life | noun |
| noi | old/ancient/wise | adjective |
| te | give/offer/share | verb |
| ni | child/small-one/young | noun |
| shi | pearl/treasure/tear-of-the-river | noun |
| we | but/however | conjunction |
| va | water/river/flow-of-life | noun |
| ve | flow/go/move | verb |
| lo | boat/vessel/reed-craft | noun |
| ni | child/small-one/young | noun |
| va | water/river/flow-of-life | noun |
| vai | deep/profound/of-the-river-depths | adjective |
| si | dive/descend/seek-pearls | verb |
Script: none (oral tradition — no writing system; this inscription is a modern scholarly transliteration of reconstructed Vorrashi rendered phonetically for museum display)
Description
A large burial urn decorated with copper bands and pearl inlay depicting the confluence of three rivers. The double-wave motif is repeated 12 times around the body — likely representing the twelve Vorrashi clans. The urn contained cremated remains and seven large pearls arranged in a specific pattern.
Scholarly Analysis(click to expand)
This urn is central to the Pearl Monopoly debate. Dr. Okonjo argues the seven pearls represent spiritual offerings to the seven river spirits, while Dr. Vasquez-Mori notes the pearls are the seven largest specimens ever recovered from Vorrashi contexts — indicating controlled access to the best pearl beds. The copper bands represent early metalworking, predating Kethari influence.
Provenance(click to expand)
- discoverer
- Dr. Emeka Okonjo and Dr. Helena Vasquez-Mori (co-discovery)
- discovery date
- 2021-06-30
- condition notes
- Reassembled from 41 fragments. One copper band replaced (modern reproduction, clearly marked). Two pearl inlays restored with modern freshwater pearls.
- excavation team
- Joint Ashenmere/Delta expedition
- discovery location
- Elite burial platform, Ashenmere Confluence, Site 1