Mentawaians

Asiahorticulturalists

Map
expand_more Description

The Mentawaians live on the Mentawai archipelago that forms part of a chain of non-volcanic islands that are in Sumatra, Indonesia. There are four large islands in the group: Siberut, Sipora, and North and South Pagai. Until recently the islands were covered with dense, tropical rainforest.The landscape is hilly and interrupted by wide valleys. The Mentawai language is in the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian family. Mentawaian households are self-sufficient, cultivating sago, taro, yams, other vegetables, and fruit. They also raise chickens and pigs. The highest political group is the local patrilineage.

Identifier
Region
  • Asia
Subregion
  • Southeast Asia
Subsistence Type
  • horticulturalists
Samples
Countries
  • Indonesia
External Links