Material culture of the ethnic aboriginal Jarawa folk in Andaman Islands, India

Abstract

Traditional knowledge is structured on the basis of practical utility and it is an experiential aptitude developed which is scripted down or transmitted orally from one generation to other. Jarawas are hunter-gatherer nomadic negritoid tribe leading a contented life with forest resources thereby justifying themselves as ‘ecosystem people’. Jarawas are eco-friendly people as they extract only that much of natural resources from the surrounding forests as they require for their survival. Awareness of the Jarawas about nature comprises of their knowledge of flora, fauna, land, sea, cosmic phenomena and especially their knowledge of flora is astounding. Nevertheless, ethnobotanical studies of Jarawas provide ample scope to generate interesting floristic data as the tribe belongs to a unique racial group inhabiting the remote geographically isolated islands with varied vegetation. They make different artefacts using materials that are available from their forest habitat except iron. Material culture of Jarawa’s is not utilitarian as they make the artefacts aesthetically pleasant by engraving geometric designs on them. Customarily, Jarawas were observed crafting criss-cross wavy designs on their faces and bodies with clay soil, besides wearing girdles of red cotton and wool which clearly exemplifies their aesthetic sense. These artefacts are mostly function oriented and their preparation is gender specific. However, no gender restrictions exist in using the artefacts. Always men make the hunting implements like bow (aav), arrow (patho) and chest guard (kekad). Conversely, the women make fishing net (botho) and cane basket (taiga) which is used for collecting and gathering food materials. Women also make head, neck and waist girdles using red wool, cotton and different plant parts like flowers and leaves etc. and decorate their bodies. Ethnobotanical information of Jarawa tribe pertaining to artefacts used in shelter, hunting, fishing, food gathering, ornamentation and dressing purposes are presented in detail besides highlighting their subsistence activities and cultural influences.