In Castaway Whats that scene where he is on the cliff with that statue?

In Castaway, there is a part where he runs out of rope and goes up to the cliff to get some more. What he finds is an actual rope and not vines as he attempts to wind up the rope to take it back down to the shore, he finds a weird Idol or statue or a branch thingy. The rope is tied around the statue/idols neck like a noose. Every time I watch that movie that scene always confuses me can someone tell me what its about? or what its supposed to mean?