Endocannibalism
Encyclopedia
Endocannibalism is the term which describes the practice of eating dead members of one's own culture, tribe or social group. The practice may have a variety of purposes, including an attempt to absorb the characteristics of the deceased, the belief that by eating human flesh there is a regeneration of life after death, the incorporation of the spirit of the dead into living descendants, or to ensure the separation of the soul from the body.
performed such practices as acts of respect for the dead person (presumably as a sign of the dead person's worth), as well as some Native American cultures such as the Mayoruna people. Ya̧nomamö consumed the ground-up bones and ashes of cremated kinsmen in an act of mourning. This is still classified as endocannibalism, although, strictly speaking, "flesh" is not eaten. The Aghori
s of northern India
consume the flesh of the dead floated in the Ganges in pursuit of immortality
and supernatural powers.
Such practices were generally not believed to have been driven by need for protein or other food.
is an incurable prion disease
that causes neurological deterioration. It spread through the Fore tribe of Papua New Guinea
, who ate the brains of their deceased relatives, especially affecting the woman and children. The Kuru epidemic, which is recorded to have begun in the 1920s, is believed to have been started by the consumption of a single individual with Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, which then spread through the population. Oral history records that cannibalism began within the Fore in the late 19th century. Cannibalistic practices were largely eliminated as Australian law enforcement and Christian missionaries spread through the island in the mid 20th century, though the long incubation period of the disease meant cases occurred into the 1990s.
A team led by Michael Alpers
, a lifelong investigator of the Kuru disease, found genes that protect against similar prion diseases were widespread around the world, indicating that such endocannibalism was once common around the world.
As a cultural practice
Some Indigenous AustraliansIndigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
performed such practices as acts of respect for the dead person (presumably as a sign of the dead person's worth), as well as some Native American cultures such as the Mayoruna people. Ya̧nomamö consumed the ground-up bones and ashes of cremated kinsmen in an act of mourning. This is still classified as endocannibalism, although, strictly speaking, "flesh" is not eaten. The Aghori
Aghori
The Aghori or Aghora are a Hindu sect believed to have split off from the Kapalika order in the fourteenth century AD. Many mainstream Hindus condemn them as non-Hindu because of their taboo violation of orthodox practices...
s of northern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
consume the flesh of the dead floated in the Ganges in pursuit of immortality
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
and supernatural powers.
Such practices were generally not believed to have been driven by need for protein or other food.
Medical implications
KuruKuru (disease)
Kuru is an incurable degenerative neurological disorder that is a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, caused by a prion found in humans...
is an incurable prion disease
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies , also known as prion diseases, are a group of progressive conditions that affect the brain and nervous system of many animals, including humans. According to the most widespread hypothesis they are transmitted by prions, though some other data suggest an...
that causes neurological deterioration. It spread through the Fore tribe of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, who ate the brains of their deceased relatives, especially affecting the woman and children. The Kuru epidemic, which is recorded to have begun in the 1920s, is believed to have been started by the consumption of a single individual with Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, which then spread through the population. Oral history records that cannibalism began within the Fore in the late 19th century. Cannibalistic practices were largely eliminated as Australian law enforcement and Christian missionaries spread through the island in the mid 20th century, though the long incubation period of the disease meant cases occurred into the 1990s.
A team led by Michael Alpers
Michael Alpers
Michael Philip Alpers AO FRS is an Australian medical researcher, and John Curtin distinguished Professor of International Health, at Curtin University.He investigated kuru disease.He is Honorary Senior Research Associate University College London.-Life:...
, a lifelong investigator of the Kuru disease, found genes that protect against similar prion diseases were widespread around the world, indicating that such endocannibalism was once common around the world.