Famous circumnavigator Captain James Cook played a profound role in world history. Cook was killed in Hawai'i after he aroused the ire of King Kalaniopu'u and his people but they still regarded him as a powerful chief whose bones were potent sources of mana, or spiritual power.
A remarkable artifact owned by the State Library of New South Wales in Australia confirms that Cook’s men also venerated his mortal remains. This small, intricately-carved coffin was created by an anonymous craftsman on Cook’s ship, the HMS Resolution, during the return journey from Hawai’i to Britain.
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| State Library of New South Wales |
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| State Library of New South Wales |
The tiny coffin features a number of striking details: the top lid swivels open in two pieces, revealing a watercolor painting of Cook's death on the beach and, below that, a lock of his hair.
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