Anthropology
Related: About this forumThe Korowai tribe live high above the ground in amazing forest tree houses
Discovered only in 1974, the Korowai live high above the ground in forest tree houses, relying on their environment to protect and nourish them.
As a semi-nomadic tribe with an ancient culture, the Korowai live an almost entirely self-sufficient lifestyle in the dense jungle of Papua. Today, their unique way of life is undergoing rapid change, under the impact of modernity and the actions of the Indonesian government.
Traditionally, the Korowai live in small isolated groups, and each group, or clan, has a particular territory. There are usually no more than five tree houses in one settlement, and typical family home is built about 8 to 12 metres above the forest floor. However, in certain areas some of the tree-houses reach as high as 45 metres.
Their houses are built in one or two days and last for three to five years. When it is time for a new house to be built, it will be constructed in the same clearing, as long as the surrounding forest can still provide enough food and materials for the families of the clan.
https://maptia.com/martingros/stories/the-korowai
Kool article also explains their social structure, food gathering, relationship of males and females etc. Also has many more photos
ellenrr
(3,864 posts)before we became a rapacious greedy destructive species.
I don't mean in tree houses - but living off of what the surrounding area provides, not destroying the earth. True they had conflict, but their conflict would be local, it wouldn't engulf the world like conflict does today.
Too bad they have been "discovered".
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)Sanity Claws
(21,847 posts)Or how a heavily pregnant woman made it up and down the ladders.
haikugal
(6,476 posts)Nay
(12,051 posts)government made them stop their occasional cannibalism, but otherwise I wish they would be left alone to live their lives.
teach1st
(5,935 posts)Thanks for posting that, Ichingcarpenter!
After reading about the Korowai, I took some time to explore the article's host site, maptia.com, which tons of compelling stories and photos from around our globe. Highly recommended.
https://maptia.com/
Judi Lynn
(160,527 posts)which would paralyze so many others.
Can't begin to imagine how it must be to look down at the forest floor from that height, expecting to climb down!
Their ability to function with such flimsy supports makes them seem magical.
I hope they can be protected from "civilization's" predatory patterns, and keep their environment intact.
AnotherDreamWeaver
(2,850 posts)Sounds like fun, except the cannibal part...