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| The Asmat The Asmat tribe inhabits the tidal swampland of Papua's south coast, an area of pristine mangroves and tidal rivers, Asmat is Papua's best known tribe for their spectacular wood- carving and history of notorious headhunting and cannibalism. Woodcarving for Asmat people is a part of ritual and religious life of the community. Every village has a few full time woodcarvers called wowipit. The Asmat believe spirits of their ancestors control activity in daily life. Carving acts as mediator between society and the world of their ancestors. Asmat traditionally are semi nomadic hunters and gatherers. With their canoes they search the rivers through the mangroves for fish, fruits, sago and they harvest vegetables |
from their small gardens
in the jungle. |
