Local origin stories describe the discovery of mokos buried in the ground, and it is still common to hear of moko being uncovered in this way. In The  People of Alor, American anthropologist Cora Du Bois describes people burying mokos in hidden locations to avoid surrendering them to creditors or lending them to relatives.
Local folklore recounts the discovery of mokos buried underground, and it remains a frequent occurrence to hear about such finds. Anthropologist Cora Du Bois, in her work "The People of Alor," details how individuals bury mokos in secret places to avoid lending them to creditors or relatives.