Animist hanging coffins still in use today, on limestone cliff in Echo Valley, Sagada, Cordillera, Luzon, Philippines, Southeast Asia, Asia

Hen and chicks by intricately woven Animist Donyi Polo shrine, made from bamboo, feathers and eggshells, Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India, Asia

Animist Donyi Polo shrine, made from bamboo, feathers and eggshells, asking for cure for illness in Apatani village house, Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India, Asia

Animist shrine on the border of Nigeria, Northern Cameroon, Africa

Animist Donyi Polo shrine to the gods, made from bamboo and maize leaves, in Apatani village, Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, India, Asia

Manipur house of wood carved from animist origins in the Heritage Centre run by the Mutua Museum, Andro Scheduled Caste village, Andro, Manipur, India, Asia

Animist shrine on the border of Nigeria, Northern Cameroon, Africa

Animist shrine on the border of Nigeria, Northern Cameroon, Africa

Animist family burial tomb near Buhit in rural Samosir Island, Sumatra, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Hanging coffins of Animistic Applai elders entombed on limestone cliffs, Sagada Town, The Cordillera Mountains, Benguet Province, Luzon, Philippines, Southeast Asia, Asia

Hanging coffins of Animistic Applai elders entombed on limestone cliffs, Sagada Town, The Cordillera Mountains, Benguet Province, Luzon, Philippines, Southeast Asia, Asia

Mount Popa, centre of Nat worship, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Animist man of the Ann tribe eating in his home by open fire, Panlor village, near Kengtung (Kyaingtong), Shan State, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

THAILAND Visit to Ban Pan Tong, a Lahu village which practices traditional religion. The local 'tobo' or shaman at the village chapel shrine conducting Animist ceremony. Photo by Sean Sprague

Pigs tied to bamboo sticks at the rante, the ceremonial site where the meat of slaughtered cattle will be distributed to the guests of a Torajan funeral, in Sereale, Toraja Land, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

People in a formal funeral procession called Ma’passa Tedong at a rante, the ceremonial site for a Torajan funeral, in Sereale, Toraja Land, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

People in a formal funeral procession called Ma’passa Tedong at a rante, the ceremonial site for a Torajan funeral, in Sereale, Toraja Land, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Pigs tied to bamboo sticks at the rante, the ceremonial site where the meat of slaughtered cattle will be distributed to the guests of a Torajan funeral, in Sereale, Toraja Land, South Sulawesi, Indonesia