Anthropologically revisiting the most reclusive masters of the terra incognita
The article explores the Sentinelese, an isolated tribe residing on North Sentinel Island, whose language and customs remain largely unknown. Despite attempts at contact by researchers and administrators, the tribe continues to live a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, relying on traditional tools and nature for survival. The paper aims to examine the complex knowledge systems of the Sentinelese and reflect on historical interactions with them.
- ▪The Sentinelese are known for their reclusiveness and have no known affinity with neighboring tribes.
- ▪They rely on Stone Age tools and have maintained a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
- ▪The article discusses past attempts at contact with the tribe, highlighting both friendly and unfriendly encounters.
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Download PDF Article Open access Published: 11 November 2024 Sentinelese contacts: anthropologically revisiting the most reclusive masters of the terra incognita North Sentinel Island Satyaki Paul ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-4825-65181, Anstice Justin2 & Sabatini Chatterjee2 Humanities and Social Sciences Communications volume 11, Article number: 1512 (2024) Cite this article 77k Accesses 46 Altmetric Metrics details Subjects AnthropologySocial anthropology AbstractThe label “Sentinelese” was etymologically derived from the island’s name by the researchers, administrators, and persons who had briefly contacted them, and not the tribes themselves. The conundrum is that their language, customary laws, traditional knowledge systems, and other social practices are still unknown.
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