The Igorot people, a collective term for several indigenous ethnic groups in the Cordillera region of northern Luzon in the Philippines, have long captured the interest of anthropologists, historians, and travelers due to their unique cultural practices. Among these is the ancient and enigmatic tradition of hanging coffins— a burial custom that involves placing the deceased in coffins which are then suspended on cliff faces or tucked into high rock crevices.

This distinctive funerary practice, most notably observed among the Applai and Kankanaey subgroups in Sagada, Mountain Province, reflects a deep intertwining of spiritual belief, ancestral reverence, and environmental adaptation. The Igorot people have historically inhabited the mountainous areas of the Cordillera Central mountain range. The term " Igorot" itself means " people of the mountains, " derived from the Tagalog word golot, meaning " mountain. "

Although the Spanish colonial government attempted to convert and integrate them into colonial society, the Igorots resisted Spanish influence and maintained a significant degree of autonomy, preserving many of their pre- colonial customs and beliefs. Among the many Igorot subgroups, the Applai and Kankanaey of Sagada are particularly known for their hanging coffin burial tradition. This practice is believed to predate the Spanish era by several centuries and continues, albeit infrequently, into the modern age.