The Last Great Anthropological Breakthrough

As time goes by, we continue to chance upon new and previously undiscovered rain forest tribal peoples, though with greater and greater infrequency.

But market forces being what they are, such tribal structures are, shall we say, falling into disuse at a rather greater rate.

It has been noted that the interval between the discovery of any given tribe and its lamentable demise was steadily diminishing.

The last great anthropological breakthrough was the discovery of the body of a mature male forest human, dead in a poachers trap.

The body bore markings which suggested membership of a previously unknown tribe.

Since such an exciting discovery had not been made for some considerable time, there followed much speculation and controversy in the specialist journals, and some animated discussion in the popular press.

And in the absence of fellow tribespeople who could perhaps have supplied accurate details, considerable latitude was allowed for the naming of the new people; for the fevered anticipation of what unmitigated knowledge & wisdom, what unalloyed authenticity, what pristine Natural Historical grist…

It was all tremendously exciting. Young anthropologists would count their careers from this day forth.

But as time went by, the excitement subsided, as excitement will, and no more were found.

marc issue robinson
1993