Sun, 2 Nov 2014

The Sentinelese People Are Thought To Be Directly Descended From The First Human


Why the Sentinelese people are thought to be directly descended from the first human populations of the world.

In this era of inter-connectivity and social networking, it might be impossible not for a person or a group of people not to have any contacts with the other parts of the world. However, the Sentinelese tribe managed to do this for about 3 centuries. The tribe has resisted any contact with the outside world and have been quietly residing in the Andaman Islands which is located in the Bay of Bengal between India.

The Sentinelese people are thought to be directly descended from the first human groups which originated from Africa. They have dark skin, a short stature, and curly hair. They are most commonly called as Negritos which refers to several ethnic groups that share the same physical characteristics that they have.


The Most Isolated Tribe In The World


They are mostly associated with the title "most isolated tribe in the world" because of how little is known about them. The information gathered from them only came from observations during the few times that the modern world has attempted to contact and approach them. However, the plan to mingle and learn more from them did not come to fruition as they would, without a word, shoot any outsiders who come near them with their arrows.

There was also an incident where two fishermen who were sleeping in their boats were killed when their boat unexpectedly came near the territory of the Sentinelese tribe. A helicopter was sent to revive the bodies of the fishermen but was quickly met with a barrage of arrows from the tribesmen which prompted the pilot to go back. The bodies of the fishermen were not recovered.


Sentinelese Language A Mystery


Based on observations, the Sentinelese people subscribe to the hunting and gathering practices which have also been the way the first people in the world lived. They also live in a simple hut which has no sidewalls and the flooring is made up of tree leaves such as palm tree leaves. Use of tools have also been observed.

The language of the Sentinelese tribe is still a mystery to anthropologists and other people studying about them. It is interesting to note that their neighboring tribes, the Onge and the Great Andamese, where unable to recognize the language spoken by the Sentinelese.


Authorities Decided To Leave The Sentinelese Alone

The tribe made headlines around the world when a helicopter drove over their island to check their status after the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. A tribesman welcomed the helicopter by pointing an arrow at the pilot which clearly translated to "Get off". From this, it could be inferred that the tribe survived and is doing well and they have quickly adapted to the situation.

In contrast to other tribes like the Onge and the Great Andamese, the Sentinelese are living well even without modern technologies. Authorities decided to leave the Sentinelese alone since they have managed to survive for so long only by depending on their inherent cultural practices and the island's natural resources. Since the Sentinelese people are thought to be descended from the first human, it has been said that they have not developed immunity from some diseases and thus can catch these diseases from contact with any human who lives in the modern-world.

Presently, the island is left alone by authorities. The authorities also discourage anyone who tries to go and approach the island. The Indian authorities also conduct infrequent visits and occasional monitoring of the tribe.