Batak

Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of closely related Austronesian ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra and parts of adjacent provinces, Indonesia, who speak the Batak languages. The term always includes the Toba, Karo, Simalungun, Pakpak-Dairi, Angkola and Mandailing, as well as other related ethnic groups with distinct languages and traditional customs (adat).

== History == left|thumb|A traditional Toba Batak house (see Batak architecture). ===Prehistory=== While the archaeology of southern Sumatra testifies to the existence of Neolithic settlers, it seems that the northern part of Sumatra was settled by agriculturalists at a considerably later stage. Although the Batak are often considered to be isolated peoples due to their location inland, there is evidence that they have been involved in trade with neighbouring kingdoms for a millennium or more.