Article 4477F Did you solve it? An Aboriginal family puzzle

Did you solve it? An Aboriginal family puzzle

by
Alex Bellos
from on (#4477F)

The solution to today's puzzle

Earlier today I set you the following puzzle: Aboriginal groups are divided into subgroups, called "skins." Your skin is determined at birth, based on your parents' skins, and it does not change in your lifetime. Your skin will determine certain social rules, such as who you are allowed to marry.

The Warlpiri, who live northwest of Alice Springs, divide themselves into eight skins, according to the rules in the diagram below. Yes, it's complicated! The skins are numbered 1 to 8. The horizontal rows indicate marriage correspondences, while the arrows point from mother to child. (All the marriages here are between men and women, and we can assume no divorces or half-siblings or step children.).

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