Abstract
Material culture of the aboriginal tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is quite delightful as much of the work remains uncovered till date. Preservation and protection of utilitarian knowledge of various tribes is quite essential as it significantly contributes towards developing important strategies by identifying cost effective and sustainable mechanisms. Utilitarian knowledge is an empirical or experiential aptitude developed by a tribe which is passed on from one generation to other and is constantly evolving in response to the changing environment. Artefacts are man-made objects of prehistoric origin. Study of tribal artefacts is being sidelined as preference is being given to edible and medicinal plants. Shompens are semi-nomadic food gatherers and hunters of stone-age civilization inhabiting deep forests of Great Nicobar Island (GNI). Shompen tribe is one of the dwindling mongoloid aborigines and presently it is an ethnic oddity. They are entirely dependent on forest resources and sea products for all their needs. Shompens appear to be an intermediate group between the Andamenese and Nicobarese, as they combine their food gathering and hunting habits with some gardening and herding. Accordingly, the material culture exhibiting their utilitarian habits presents unique scenario. Ethnobotanical studies conducted among the shompens inhabiting Jhaunala, Laful, Shompenhut, East West Road and Kopenheat areas of GNI have revealed interesting information about 43 plants pertaining to artefacts used in shelter, transportation, hunting, fishing, food gathering, ornamentation, cooking vessel, fire drill and dressing purposes. This research article also presents a glimpse of such artefacts developed using forest resources, highlighting their ethnoecological and cultural influences besides tracing out the economic utility of native plant species traditionally employed by the rare and ethnic Shompen tribe of GNI. Further, it provides the baseline data for drawing a road map for critical scientific evaluation of plants and plant products for developing value added products thereby boosting the economy of the region.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to Dr. A.A. Mao the Director, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata for granting necessary permission, guidance and encouragement. Authors are also grateful to the Head of Office, BSI, A&N Regional Centre, Port Blair and the Director, Tribal Welfare, A&N Administration, Port Blair for overall help and facilities. Thanks are also due to all the members of the Shompen Tribe who in one or other way helped and shared their experiences pertaining to utilitarian knowledge. The assistance rendered by Sri V. Ramesh, for preparation of photographic plates is gratefully acknowledged.
Funding
The present research work has been carried out as part of Approved Annual Action Plan program of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi with recurring sanctioned budget of Botanical Survey of India and does not involve any funding from other external agencies/departments.
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In the present research work no humans/animals has been harmed or injured. The ethno botanical data collection was done with prior consent and permission obtained from Tribal Welfare Directorate, Port Blair and persons concerned.
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Sharief, M.U., Panda, S.P. Folklore artefacts of aboriginal Shompen tribe in Great Nicobar Island, India. Genet Resour Crop Evol 68, 835–847 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-020-01027-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-020-01027-x