Placing the dead in ossuary shrines that were secreted deep in caves is an ancient Austronesian tradition found over a broad range of islands, including the Philippines, Sulawesi and many other places. In Borneo, some of the oldest wood figures that have come to light were "demon protectors" originally found on the ends of secondary "bone boxes " which includes this object; it has been radio carbon dated with 95% certainty to 1444-1644 CE.