Originally the people of West Papua lived quite isolated in their own territory, sometimes with friendly relations with their neighbours. Clan territories include one to five clustered tree houses with, having an average height of 26 to 39 feet (8 to 12 meteres). Some are exceptionally tall (as high as 148 feet [45 metres].
To build a tree house, first a solid tree is selected as central pole. Operating from scaffolds, the builder removes the top of the tree and constructs the floor, which is supported by four to ten poles. The floor is constructed of spars and covered with bark. The walls are made of the wooden shafts of sago leaves and the roof is also covered with sago leaves.
These houses can consist of three parts. In the middle, common life flows, and its front is for men, the rear for women. On the walls bows and arrows hang, and the only furniture are sago leaves. Bones of hunted animals, flying fox skulls, turtles shells, parrot's head, wild pig jaws hang from the ceiling. The fireplace forms a thick layer of river clay, sufficient to isolate the flames. Through cudgels of the floor, waste can drop down.