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Date: | Mon, 8 Nov 2004 23:14:35 -0800 |
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> The first example of paleo eating which was not healthy is the disease
> kuru occurring in the Fore (pronounced 'foray') people in Papua New
> Guinea. This was fatal but people kept on eating the warm brains of their
> recently deceased relatives and so contracting a disease like CJD. (They
> attributed the affliction to spirits). More info at:
<Meanwhile two
anthropologists, Robert & Shirley Glasse, repeated Gajdusek=92s
anthropological studies and confirmed that kuru was only 50 years old.
Also cannibalism, although frequent among other tribes in Papua New
Guinea, was uncommon with the Fore until about 1915 when they enjoyed
human flesh at a Kamano feast. With almost unbelievable rapidity,
cannibalism was syncretised with the funeral rituals. Customarily the body
was left to putrefy for three or four days, then baked and totally
consumed. Division of parts was strictly formalised (the mother=92s
brother=92s wife got the brain) and the men generally forewent the fare
believing that it would hamper fighting ability. The Australians had tried
to suppress cannibalism but Gajdusek suspected that secret ceremonies were
performed during his tenure.=20>
we can hardly consider a 50 year old practice as paleo , on top of that
papua guinea tribes were rellying on starchy roots as their staple taro ,
yams cassavas etc....
jean-claude
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