Anthropological Studies Research Articles

Semantics and social dynamics of money: An anthropological study of cultural significance and economic transformations

Semantics and social dynamics of money: An anthropological study of cultural significance and economic transformations

Geschierian magic: Belonging beyond autochthony. A special issue in honour of Peter Geschiere

This article traces the intellectual trajectory of the anthropologist and Africanist Peter Geschiere, which is deeply informed by a commitment to meticulous and long-term ethnographic fieldwork that prioritizes local ways of being and subjectivities. The article highlights some of the significant contributions Geschiere made to the fields of Anthropology and African Studies, including his insights into the politics and perils of belonging which he studied in relation to the rise of politics of autochthony in both the Netherlands and in Cameroon as well as his sustained intellectual attention to what can be called the occult or the hidden dimensions of kinship and witchcraft. The article opens a special issue honouring of the work of Peter Geschiere.

ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE FUTURE: HOW TECHNOLOGY WILL CHANGE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HUMANITY IN 2025

As we venture into 2025, the intersection of anthropology and technology presents a fascinating frontier for understanding humanity. This article explores the transformative impact of emerging technologies on our perceptions and experiences of being human. Anthropology, traditionally focused on the study of human societies, cultures, and evolutionary development, is now increasingly intertwined with the rapid advancements in technology. (Lytvynova, L. V. 2004) The article delves into the evolution of anthropological studies in the context of technological innovation. Historically, anthropology has provided insights into the cultural and social dynamics of human societies. However, the advent of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology is reshaping these dynamics, prompting anthropologists to reconsider their frameworks and methodologies. The integration of big data analytics, for instance, allows for a more nuanced understanding of human behavior on a global scale, uncovering patterns and trends that were previously elusive. Next, the article examines how technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are revolutionizing anthropological research and education. These immersive technologies enable researchers to recreate and explore ancient civilizations, offering new perspectives on historical and cultural contexts. Moreover, VR and AR provide powerful tools for education, allowing students to engage with anthropological content in more interactive and impactful ways.

Matvei Nikolaevich Khangalov: an intellectual biography of a distinguished ethnographer

In this article, we attempt to present an intellectual biography of the prominent Buryat ethnographer and public educator Matvei Khangalov (1858–1918). He remains an important figure in the Buryat public community, yet little attention has been paid to his life and work in anthropological studies. Drawing on archival and literary sources, as well as various recollections of his contemporaries, we explore his family background, pedagogical activities, public engagement, scholarly legacy and publications, tracing the chronology of his academic career and the scope of his field research and academic collaborations. The new findings shed light on the historical circumstances, shaped by the specific development of Mongol studies and ethnography within the Russian Empire, that provided the scholar with the opportunity to fully realize his creative potential.

Bernhard Blechmann’s Body: The “Jewish Race” in Nineteenth-Century Physical Anthropology in Transnational Perspective

AbstractThe dissertation “Ein Beitrag zur Anthropologie der Juden” (A Contribution to the Anthropology of the Jews) by Berhard Blechmann was the first major study in physical anthropology that focused on the examination of Jews. It has been hitherto discussed as an early example of the othering of Jews in German nineteenth-century anthropology. Based on close reading and by exploring the circumstances of its writing, this essay reclassifies the dissertation in several ways. It emerges that the work belongs in the Russian (Baltic) academic and political context, and that Blechmann was Jewish. With this new perspective, the article discusses Blechmann’s conception of what constitutes a scientific approach to anthropology and to Jews as a racial group. Moreover, it sheds light on the transnational space in which the dissertation was created and enquires into Blechmann’s self-conception as a Jew.

Genetic, Linguistic and Molecular Anthropological Study of the Indian Ocean Littoral in Austronesian Dispersal Across the Pacific

The Indian Ocean region is a critical route/corridor/barrier for the migration and settlement of people whose social, linguistic and genetic ancestry is of interest to anthropologists worldwide. Varying from the ‘little tradition’ of small isolated populations to the ‘great tradition’ of global and admixed heritage, in the field of collating evidences from culture, language and anthropological genetics this paper will examine the ‘Austronesian dispersal’ within the boundaries of the Indian ocean sporadically sprinkled across Pacific islanders.

Origin and Development: History of Storytelling

Storytelling has been a fundamental part of human culture for thousands of years, serving as a means for entertainment, education, and preserving cultural traditions. The origins of storytelling can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where oral narratives were used to pass down histories, myths, and legends from one generation to the next. This research paper aims to examine the evolution of storytelling throughout history, exploring how the form and function of stories have adapted to changing social, technological, and cultural landscapes. By drawing upon a comprehensive review of historical records, anthropological studies, and contemporary scholarship, this paper will trace the development of storytelling from its earliest beginnings to the present day, identifying key milestones, influential figures, and significant shifts in the art of narrative. The research suggests that while the mediums and techniques of storytelling have evolved dramatically, from cave paintings to digital platforms, the fundamental human need to share and consume stories has remained constant throughout history, thus reflecting innate desire to make sense of the world and place within it. Through understanding the rich history and enduring significance of storytelling, this paper will provide valuable insights into the human experience and the role of narrative in shaping collective identity and cultural heritage.

Academic Listening Practices and Synodality: Reflections from a Study of World Youth Days

In order to analyze the possible contribution of academic listening practices to the synodal process, this article offers a reflexive analysis of two social science studies of World Youth Days. The first investigation is a historical work carried out between 2017 and 2020 on John Paul II’s World Youth Days, based on archives and testimonies collected in seven different countries. The second is a sociological and anthropological study carried out in July-August 2023 on the occasion of the WYD in Lisbon: as part of a delegation of pilgrims, the author experienced the pilgrimage in Portugal among the young people and their chaplains, while carrying out research work. At the crossroads of epistemological reflection and life review, the paper presents the opportunities and risks of such empirical research from the viewpoints of the researcher, respondents, and Catholic institution. While highlighting misunderstandings that can arise, the article emphasizes the mutual enrichment academic listening practices in a church setting can bring. If the researcher and researched agree to let go of their rigidities, their companionship can purify both faith and science by desacralizing what should not be sacred.

Protecting jobs and lives: Teachers’ passive resistance and subtle protest to curriculum policy in Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe

Most studies on teacher resistance to curriculum policy and reform implementation focus on teacher activism and visible acts of resistance. But there is growing interest in teachers’ passive resistance and covert protest in the face of intimidating state power. This paper theorises subtleties of teacher protest in three Southern African states – Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe. In these countries, teacher strikes, class boycotts and sit-ins have received heavy handed reaction from the government, resulting in psychological intimidation, physical assaults and incarceration. The key question driving this paper, therefore, is: Faced with shrinking democratic space, how are teachers in Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe recalibrating protest strategies? This paper argues that state repression pushes teachers to retreat from active protest and resort to subtle protest, to protect their jobs and lives. The unique contributions of this paper are that it borrows James Scott’s typology of ‘everyday invisible acts of resistance’, developed from an anthropological study of peasants struggle in a Malay village, to theorise teacher resistance in pseudo-democratic spaces. It also generates novel insights on how teachers continue to resist curriculum policy while sending false signals of compliance to repressive state power.

Bloodstream: notes towards an anthropology of digital logistics in healthcare.

Based on ethnographic research in northern Ghana, this article explores the complex logistics of blood and the ways in which the availability of blood has been transformed through the introduction of drones. We explore how drone services affect this ecosystem of supply and contribute to reshaping the practices of physicians, nurses, facility pharmacists and stock managers, as well as the expectations and experiences of patients and their families. Situated at the interface of medical anthropology, critical studies of infrastructure and anthropological studies of digital innovations in healthcare, our paper attends to the emerging anthropological research on medical logistics as a means of connecting people with medical resources. It demonstrates the fundamentally ambivalent nature of technological innovation: on the one hand, drones have fueled health workers' hopes and transformed access to blood. On the other hand, their introduction has also led to connectivity without stock. In line with STS scholarship, we highlight the important role of the physical properties of objects such as blood in shaping their circulation.

Household Economy and its Relation to Household Head and Women: A Study Among the Tangkhuls in Kangpokpi District, Manipur

The household economy is the collective sociocultural of managing resources and economic activities within households or families. A household economy is a fundamental unit of analysis in anthropological studies of economic systems, as it provides insights into how people manage their livelihoods within different cultural contexts. The present study attempted to investigate the relationship between household income and the role of household heads and women in income generation in the context of the Tangkhul of Kangpokpi District, Manipur. Using a mixed methods approach, including surveys, interviews and focus group discussions, the study examines the economic practices of households engaged in shifting cultivation and how household heads and women contribute to income generation. The finding reveals the significant contribution of women to household economic activities and the interplay between gender roles and household heads in the Tangkhul community. The Tangkhul is a patriarchal society, although women enjoy substantial freedom and play an important role in family and community life. The study highlights the need for a more detailed understanding of economic practices and the role of gender in shaping household income in rural communities. The insight gained from this research can inform policies and interventions aimed at livelihood and reducing poverty in rural areas.

Extending the Borders of Translation and Translation Studies: Cultural Translation as a Portal

The essay explores the evolving conceptualisation of translation, moving from a traditional focus on linguistic aspects to an expansive cultural and metaphorical approach. It analyses how this shift challenges and redefines the boundaries of translation studies. The essay specifically underscores the interdisciplinary nature of the concept of cultural translation, showcasing its possible role as a nexus among diverse academic fields such as linguistics, sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies. It advocates that cultural translation c an serve as a crucial tool not only for deciphering intricate intercultural dynamics and exchanges but also for expor ting theories and insights from translation studies to other disciplines. In this way, cultural translation emerges as a liminal interdisciplinary portal, which reciprocally broadens and amplifies the scope and impact of translation studies. That is, while the co nceptual robustness of cultural translation enriches the field of translation studies, the insights and theories nurtured within this field can be propagated to adjacent disciplines via the intermediary of cultural translation.

Selective neglect of viral risk: Tokyo’s commuter trains during the COVID-19 pandemic

This article asks why Tokyo’s crowded trains were largely absent from official discourses of viral risk in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. While public transport environments were often framed as spaces of contagion in other countries, Japanese public health discourses instead tended to emphasize the viral safety of urban railway transport. Drawing on an analysis of media and expert discourse, auto-ethnographic fieldwork, and repeat interviews with commuters, this article examines the processes through which Tokyo’s urban railway network was extracted from discourses of viral risk. It identifies four factors that contributed to this: (1) dominant definitions of risk spaces in public health messaging, (2) trains’ integral role in the operation of socio-economic life, (3) elusiveness of public transport in the epidemiological data, and (4) a focus on “unruly” passenger conduct. This analysis of the selective treatment of viral risks is tied to a critical engagement with theoretical distinctions between “essential” and “existential” mobilities developed in prior anthropological scholarship on the pandemic. Exploring the discursive framing of pandemic mobility practices on one of the world’s most extensive urban railway networks, the article thus contributes to the anthropological study of mobilities and transport in Japan and beyond.

Representation of Shia Muslim life in Contemporary German Society (Hamburg Case Study)

"Representation of Shia Muslim Life in Germany" is a cultural anthropological study on the religiosity of Hamburgian Shias. Using the qualitative method of sensory autoethnography, the researcher describes and analyzes his lived experiences and attempts to clarify how religion is embodied in the face of tradition and modernity. The results of the study indicate the cultural resilience of Shias in a spectrum of pluralism in the new ecosystem.

Inclusive Education and Social Inequality: An Anthropological Study of Social Mobility and Access to Education

This research investigates the multifaceted relationship between inclusive education and social inequality, focusing on the potential of inclusive educational practices in Europe, with a specific case study in Bulgaria, to promote social mobility for marginalized populations. Grounded in an anthropological framework, the study seeks to understand how structural and cultural barriers impede access to equitable education for marginalized groups, with particular attention to Roma students, one of the most disadvantaged communities in Europe. By examining the educational landscape in Bulgaria, this research delves into the lived experiences of educators, psychologists, and occupational therapists working to implement inclusive education within a system often fraught with discrimination, limited resources, and institutional challenges. The qualitative research, conducted in Sofia from February to April 2024, draws on interviews, participant observation, and focus groups to capture the nuanced challenges and successes of those involved in delivering inclusive education. Findings reveal that despite national policies aimed at promoting inclusion, significant barriers persist, particularly for Roma students, who continue to face segregation, prejudice, and limited educational opportunities. Educators frequently report difficulties in accommodating the diverse needs of students within under-resourced schools, while psychological and cultural biases further hinder effective inclusion. Moreover, the study identifies a critical gap between policy and practice, where inclusive education policies are often poorly implemented due to a lack of cultural competence and institutional support. This gap has direct implications for the social mobility of marginalized students, as education remains a key determinant of their future opportunities. The findings underscore the urgent need for culturally responsive teaching strategies and support systems that are tailored to the unique socio-economic and cultural contexts of marginalized communities. These strategies must go beyond superficial inclusion to actively dismantle the entrenched inequalities that exist within educational institutions. This study emphasizes the pivotal role of inclusive education in addressing social inequality and promoting social mobility. However, it also highlights the significant work that remains to be done to ensure that inclusive education is truly accessible and effective for all, particularly for marginalized groups like the Roma. By proposing a series of culturally sensitive and contextually informed recommendations, the research advocates for a more holistic approach to inclusive education that can better support the academic and social advancement of marginalized students, ultimately fostering greater equity in educational outcomes and social mobility.

Technical note: Measuring bicondylar length in computed tomography data.

With the increased use of 3D-generated images in biological research, there is a critical need to adapt classical anatomical measurements, traditionally conducted with calipers, to a virtual environment. We present detailed protocols for measuring bicondylar length, a critical dimension of the femur, using three different imaging software programs-3D Slicer™, Amira™, and Simpleware™. These protocols provide researchers and practitioners in radiology, orthopedics, biomechanics, and biological anthropology with accurate and reproducible measurement techniques. The objective is to standardize and support virtual osteology in biomechanical research, stature estimation, and related medical and anthropological studies. Adhering to standardized protocols, we adapted femoral bicondylar length measurements for computed tomography images from a New Mexican collection (n = 10). The method was designed for applicability and reproducibility across three software platforms. By comparing measurements from the same sample across different observers and different platforms, this study validates the accuracy and consistency of the adapted protocol, demonstrating its utility for research and clinical assessments. We present a step-by-step guide for each program, detailing bone alignment and measurement. We illustrate each step and provide video tutorials via links for an enhanced understanding of the process. Bicondylar length can be measured effectively in each software program following the provided instructions. However, ease of measurement varied among the programs, with some offering a more straightforward process. This variability underscores the importance of choosing appropriate software for the user's needs and proficiency. It also suggests areas for improvement and standardization in software design and instructional clarity.

Tradisi Seren Taun berbasis Kearifan Lokal Masyarakat AdatKasepuhan (Suatu Kajian Holistik Antropologi Hukum)

Seren Taun is a series of agricultural activities carried out every year by a traditional community in atraditional area which is usually called a traditional traditional ritual, as a form of respect for the ancestors andthe Goddess Sri with all forms of rituals and cultural arts performances of the Kasepuhan indigenouscommunity from very from long ago to modern art displayed by indigenous peoples. The rice was brought,paraded, accompanied by everyone present to be stored in the Leuit Si Jimat communal barn. The local wisdomof the Kasepuhan traditional community of Banten Kidul is a community that still upholds and carries outtraditions with the supervision of the Abah as the Traditional Leader. Kasepuhan residents are devoutfollowers of the Islamic religion, but in their daily lives they are characterized by mythical and animist beliefsor they still maintain ancestral beliefs such as burning incense, giving offerings, traditional ceremonies, placingfences on doors, and other ancestral beliefs. The Holistic Study of Legal Anthropology illustrates that traditionalrituals based on local wisdom are a manifestation of the behavior or actions of indigenous people in an effort toget closer to God. Because rituals are ceremonies carried out by indigenous people throughout their lifetime,they are carried out by every indigenous community in their traditional territory, because they are ceremoniesfor the life cycle of an individual's life as a member of society (the universal circle of life).Keywords: Seren Taun Tradition, Local Wisdom of the Kasepuhan Indigenous Community, Holistic Study ofLegal Anthropology

Not burning, but rebuilding: The ABCS of anthropology using multimodal methodologies and DEAF values

In 2019, Ryan Cecil Jobson made the case for ‘letting anthropology burn’, arguing that: “the field of anthropology cannot presume a coherent human subject as its point of departure but must adopt a radical humanism as its political horizon” (2019:328). In this article, Robinson upholds Jobson’s mandate to adopt a radical humanism, though not by burning, but methodologically rebuilding anthropology using multimodal ethnographic praxis, drawing on learnings from time spent working and learning from DEAF spaces. She charts her intellectual and affective journey from working with deaf artists and educators, through studies in anthropology, and towards transformative encounters with multimodal social semiotics. Through learning to listen and evaluate in DEAF ways, she found that non-deaf, majority-centred ways of conducting research naturally receded, thereby re-scaffolding ethnographic methods, proffering a ready-made approach to inclusive anthropological knowledge-making and a potential means for democratising anthropology from the ground up. Robinson argues that approaching ethnographic praxis in a way that both de-prioritises English-text and prioritises participant-led approaches by default reshapes what constitutes valuable anthropological knowledge, facilitating broader participant inclusion and legibility, while also rendering more apparent entrenched power hierarchies and epistemic imbalances.

A review of Dr Wrangham’s book, ‘the Goodness Paradox . . . ‘, and insights into the evolution of human language, aesthetics, and free will

Dr Richard Wrangham’s book and YouTubes are helping to explain our evolved psychology as primarily occurring in African hunter-gatherer bands before the end of the last ice age. This perspective is supported by the exquisite cave paintings and tool artifacts from this ancient time. The most important evidence about our origins, however, comes from recent anthropological studies of current bands that represent the earlier age. Results showed that 5-psychosocial-behaviors produced both the environment and the natural selection for our psychology. These are: 1) language, coalitional activities and egalitarianism organization, 2) problems of bullies for egalitarianism, 3) management of the problems by gossip, ostracism and executions, 4) those targeted by the management had shorter lives and fewer children demonstrating strong natural selection, 5) reduced targeting occurred for those showing high-quality activities or high status, which increased the complexity of the selection to include all of our psychological abilities. The evolved psychological abilities include those highlighted by Dr Wrangham: emotions, intelligence, conscience and personality, as well as those with only supporting evidence: developmental and social learning, theory of mind, language, aesthetics, and free will. Further support for the importance of the 5-psychosocial-behaviors is provided by evidence from the domestication syndrome, natural selection pressure, and a positive feedback model. In addition, these perspectives can explain issues such as why 50% of our thoughts and behaviors comes from our environment and development as demonstrated in identical twin studies, and why we experience life with agency and free will. Dr Wrangham’s work is producing a new explanation of our nature that can help us all to understand why we are the way we are.

Kurganless Cemetery of the Sarmatian Times on the Maloe Storozhevoe Hillfort in the Middle Don Basin

The paper publishes research results on five burials discovered at the smaller of the two hillforts of the Scythian era located near the village Storozhevoye 1st on the river Don. The results of their comprehensive archaeological and anthropological study characterize the little-studied kurganless tradition of the Sarmatian period in the forest-steppe Don region. Ethnical, cultural and chronological attribution of the complexes is based on the ritual and material analogies. The study of anthropological materials was carried out using standard methods. Reconstruction of the buried individuals diet was carried out based on the results of the ratio of stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon (д13C and д15N) in bone tissue collagen. The burials were located in the embankment of a shaft and contained the remains of four men (25–30, 25–35, 40–44 and 60+ years old), a teenager (14–19 years old) and a child (5–10 years old). Based on the ritual and a small inventory, they are identified as Sarmatian and dated within the 1st – early 2nd centuries. As a rule, the dead were placed in relatively shallow graves (about 0.4 m) on their backs in an extended position with their heads facing southeast. The two graves destroyed the earlier burials of the teenager and the child, whose skeletal remains were displaced. The burial of an older man stands out buried in a deeper grave (0.7 m) and with a set of objects (an iron dagger, a clay bowl with an iron knife and animal bones). A silver earring and a bone bead were buried with the two individuals. Traces of trauma and pathology on the bones were either absent or few in number (caries, abrasion and loss of teeth). The plant component (apparently millet) dominated the diet of the individuals, but meat and dairy foods occupied an important place as well. The burials apparently belonged to the inhabitants of a hillfort Bol’shoe Storozhevoe located nearby, the layers of which also contain materials from the Sarmatian era. They constituted a small burial ground associated with the lifestyle transformation of one of the semi-nomadic societies in the region.