Buzz
There are reportedly up to one hundred “uncontacted tribes” still inhabiting some of the most remote corners of the globe. These tribes, who have preserved ways of life long abandoned by the outside world, offer anthropologists a treasure trove of knowledge about the evolution of human cultures over time.
10. The Surma People
The Surma tribe in Ethiopia avoided Western influence for many years. Despite becoming known to the West for their large lip plates, they rejected any form of government interference. Living in small groups of a few hundred people, the Surma continued their modest cattle herding for centuries, while events like colonization, World Wars, and the fight for independence unfolded around them.
In the 1980s, a group of Russian doctors became the first to communicate with the Surma people, who initially believed them to be the walking dead due to their pale skin. One of the few aspects of modernity that the Surma adopted was the use of AK-47s to guard their herds of livestock.
9. Peruvian Tribe Encountered by Tourists
While trekking through the dense Peruvian jungle, a group of tourists unexpectedly came across members of an unknown tribe. The entire encounter was filmed: the tribe attempted to communicate, but as neither Spanish nor English was spoken, they eventually gave up and left the confused tourists behind.
Upon reviewing the footage, Peruvian authorities realized the tour group had stumbled upon one of the last undiscovered tribes, previously unknown to anthropologists. Scientists had been searching for this tribe for years without success, yet the tourists found them without even trying.
8. The Solitary Brazilian
Slate has referred to him as “the most isolated man on Earth.” Deep in the Amazon rainforest, there exists a tribe made up of just one individual. Much like the elusive Bigfoot, this man vanishes whenever it seems that scientists are about to track him down.
Why is he so sought after, and why can’t he simply be left alone? As it turns out, he is believed to be the last surviving member of his uncontacted tribe in the Amazon. He is the only living person who still upholds the customs and language of his people; finding him would be like uncovering a treasure chest of knowledge, including vital insights into how he has survived alone for decades.
7. The Jackson Whites
In the 1700s, European settlers completed their colonization of the East Coast of North America. By this time, every tribe between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River had been documented—every tribe, that is, except one.
In the 1790s, an unknown Native American tribe emerged from the forests just 35 miles (56 km) away from New York City. Despite being in the heart of the conflict during the Seven Years’ War and the Revolutionary War, they had somehow managed to stay completely undisturbed by settlers. They were later named the Jackson Whites, due to their fair skin and the belief that they were descendants of the British “Jacks.”
6. The Vietnamese Ruc
The Vietnam War resulted in widespread bombing in areas that had previously remained untouched. After one particularly massive American bombing campaign, North Vietnamese soldiers were stunned to see a group of tribespeople emerge from the jungle.
This marked the Ruc tribe’s first encounter with technologically advanced individuals. Due to the devastation in the jungle, the Ruc chose to remain in modern Vietnam rather than return to their traditional lifestyle. However, the clash between their deeply rooted tribal values and the communist Vietnamese government soon led to tension and hostility on both sides.
5. The Last of the Native Americans
In 1911, the last uncontacted Native American emerged from the forests of California, dressed in full tribal attire—only to be arrested by bewildered police. His name was Ishi, and he belonged to the Yahia tribe.
After being interrogated by police, who had arranged for a local college interpreter, it was revealed that Ishi was the last surviving member of his tribe, which had been wiped out by settlers three years earlier. After struggling to survive alone in the wilderness, he decided to seek help by making contact with others.
Ishi was taken to Berkeley University, where he shared the knowledge of his native life with the academic staff, revealing numerous survival techniques that had been forgotten or were unknown to researchers.
4. The Brazilian Tribes
The Brazilian government has been attempting to determine how many people live in the remote regions of the Amazon for population control purposes. As a result, their planes regularly fly over the jungle with photographic equipment, hoping to locate and count the inhabitants below. The flights do produce results—but often in unexpected ways.
In 2007, during a routine low-altitude photography mission, the plane came under attack by arrows fired from the bows of a previously unknown tribe. Then, in 2011, a satellite scan detected what appeared to be tiny dots in a remote part of the jungle that was thought to be uninhabitable. Those dots turned out to be people.
3. The Sentinelese
The Sentinelese are a tribe of roughly 250 individuals who live on North Sentinel Island, located between India and Thailand. Not much is known about them, as they greet every visitor with a volley of arrows.
A few peaceful interactions in the late 1960s provided most of what we know about their way of life. Coconuts left on the beach as offerings were eaten rather than planted. Live pigs were shot with arrows and buried without being consumed. The most valued items were red buckets, which the Sentinelese took, while similar green buckets were left behind.
Anyone attempting to approach the islands today should first make sure their will is in order. A National Geographic team had to retreat when the lead member was struck by an arrow in his thigh, and two local guides lost their lives.
The Sentinelese are also known for their remarkable ability to withstand natural disasters—unlike many modern populations living in similar conditions. For example, these coastal dwellers successfully avoided the devastating effects of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, which caused destruction in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
2. The Pintupi Nine
In 1984, a previously unknown group of Aborigines was discovered near a settlement in Western Australia. After fleeing, the Pintupi Nine—as they would later be known—were tracked down by speakers of their native tongue and informed about a place where water flowed from pipes and food was abundant. While most of the group chose to settle in the modern town—some even becoming traditional artists—one member, Yari Yari, chose to return to the Gibson Desert, where he still resides today.
1. The Tribes of New Guinea
In New Guinea, it is believed that numerous languages, cultures, and tribal traditions remain hidden from modern civilization. The rugged and largely unexplored landscape, combined with reports of cannibalism among its inhabitants, makes rural New Guinea rarely visited. While new tribes are occasionally discovered, many expeditions aimed at finding them are cut short—or in some cases, those leading the search simply vanish.
In 1961, for instance, Michael Rockefeller set out to locate some of these lost tribes. Rockefeller, the heir to a vast American fortune, was separated from his group and is thought to have been captured and consumed by tribespeople.
