Across the globe, remote communities continue to preserve their ancient, stone-age traditions, remaining entirely cut off from the modern world. One such fascinating group resides deep within the dense rainforests of Papua, Indonesia, where members do not build houses on the ground, but instead spend their entire lives high up in the trees.
The Tree-Dwelling Korowai Tribe of Papua
Known as the Korowai tribe, this indigenous community is world-famous for its extraordinary architectural lifestyle. Instead of ground-level dwellings, they construct sturdy traditional houses made of thatch and wood high up in the canopy, roughly 15 to 20 meters above the forest floor. Entire families live in these elevated homes, maintaining a lifestyle unchanged for centuries.
Referred to frequently as 'tree-dwellers', the Korowai rely on a primitive lifestyle centered around hunting, gathering wild fruits, and utilizing natural resources found in the surrounding jungle. Their unique customs and isolation from modern humanity have continuously fascinated anthropologists and travelers worldwide.
Why Do They Build Houses on Trees?
There are several compelling reasons behind the Korowai tribe's treehouse-living tradition. Apart from escaping dangerous predators and venomous snakes that roam the jungle floor, the community holds strong spiritual beliefs regarding malevolent spirits roaming the ground. To protect themselves from these perceived evil entities, they choose to elevate their homes.
Using locally sourced materials such as sturdy wood, rattan, and sago palm leaves, these tribesmen display incredible architectural skills in building durable platforms high above. This elevated existence also aids in spotting small game and forest resources essential for daily survival.
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