Abstract:

In both archaeology and anthropology, the documentation of various techniques, economic interrelations, belief systems, and the handling and perception of the environment is of fundamental importance. In particular, knowledge of non-industrial contexts that do not conform to market-economic rules provides a source of information that can be crucial for shaping our world today. In many cases, the bearers of such knowledge are highly diverse societies that have not yet been fully integrated into the market economy.

In Northeast India especially, we encounter numerous and, in some cases, very diverse communities that carry with them slowly vanishing knowledge of environmental interaction, specific craft techniques, nutritional strategies, or techniques for landscape conservation. Furthermore, various archaeological evidence exists which, when brought together, tells of the multifaceted and far-reaching history of human settlement in this region. Interestingly, these are areas with arguably the highest biodiversity and greatest linguistic diversity in the world. Both point to the existence of an immensely valuable resilience against developments that lead to a reduction in knowledge about sustainable interaction with nature and one’s own autonomy.

These topics were highlighted in the workshop ‘Indigenous Knowledge in Transformation: Northeast India’ that brought together many scholars from Northeast India. Most of the papers from the workshop are published in this volume.

Contents

Preface by the series editors
In Memoriam – Ditamulü Vasa
Preface by the editors

INTRODUCTION

Indigenous Knowledge in Transformation: Northeast India
Tiatoshi Jamir, Johannes Müller

ARCHITECTURE

Exploring traditional techniques of Ao Naga house architecture
Mepusangba

House on a rock: appreciating and acknowledging Rong architecture
Charisma K. Lepcha, Rongnyoo Lepcha

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Material functions of mineral clay soils in indigenous Naga metallurgy
Tiatemjen Tzudir

Women and weaving: preservation of intangible cultural heritage in Mizoram
Hmingthanzuali

Traditional knowledge system of dyeing yarns associated with Meitei textiles
Potshangbam Binodini Devi

The dying tradition of salt-making in Manipur
Rajkumari Barbina

SUBSISTENCE

Dhan kheti to Sanskriti: Indigenous Knowledge associated with rice in Northeast India
Manjil Hazarika

Material culture and technological perspective on procurement and consumption of wild rice in Manipur (India)
Robinson Huidrom, Huidrom Suraj Singh, Mayanglambam ManiBabu

Indigenous Knowledge associated with the harvest of the Asian Giant Hornet among the indigenous communities of Northeast India
Femi Ezhthupallickal Benny, Thejavikho Chase, Dharma Rajan Priyadarsanan

Traditional hunting and trapping methods and practices among the Ao tribes of Nagaland
Yabangri Changkiri, †Ditamulü Vasa

MEDICINAL KNOWLEDGE

Animal and human relationships: traditional zoo-therapy practices among the Dimasa society of Assam
Tilok Thakuria, Atashi Maitra

Indigenous Knowledge in Arunachal Pradesh
Roger Blench

Glimpses of traditional indigenous technology practices of Nagas in India
Sapu Changkija

CONSERVATION AND BELIEFS

Sacred groves and community protected forests in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India: a case study of few variants in Indigenous Knowledge Practices
Hiambok J Syiemlieh

Ecology in tradition: exploring the cultural context of the sacred groves in the Khasi-Jaintia hills of Meghalaya
Marco Mitri

Relevance of the belief system of the Galo in conserving biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayas
Bomchak Riba

‘Water’ (Twi/Toi) in the Indigenous Knowledge, culture and religious practices of Tripura
Jonomti Reang, Sukhendu Debbarma

CONCLUSION

Concluding remarks and future perspectives
Tiatoshi Jamir, Johannes Müller

List of contributors