The Mariu were an indigenous Australian people of the Northern Territory. Their language is unattested, but may have been Miriwung.
Country In Norman Tindale's estimation the Mariu's territory covered some in the area south of where the Victoria River enters the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf. The Bullo River also formed part of their land.
Social organization In 1900, R. H. Mathews, a surveyor and self-taught anthropologist, presented a paper attributing to the Mariu — together with other "large and important tribes", from both Western Australia and the Northern Territory, such as the Gija, Perrakee, Gooniyandi, Nyigina, Bunuba, Djaru and Walmadjari — an 8 section marriage system among clans, which he illustrated in the following general table. Phratry Father Mother Son Daughter AJungurra Nungulla JabulgieNabijerry Jackara Nabijerry Julimar Naboron Janima Naboron Jungary Nabungarty Jambidgena Nabungarty Jangula NungullaB Jangula Nangilee Jambidgena Nambidgena Jungary Nambidgena Janima Nabina Julimar Nabanna Jackara Nackara Jabulgie Nackara Jungurra Nangilee
Alternative names Mayu Mayoo Mariung
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