History Of Anthropology Research Articles

Evliya’s Song: Listening to the Early Modern Ottoman Court

Abstract This article discusses the relationship between music, sound, writing, and power in the early modern Ottoman Empire. It focuses on a description of a musical gathering at the court of Murad IV (r. 1623–40) in the Seyahatnâme (Book of travels), written by the courtier and musician Evliya Çelebi (1611–ca. 1685). The article draws on literature from historical anthropology, sound studies, and Ottoman cultural history to produce a multilayered reading that underscores the importance of music and other sonic practices in Ottoman courtly culture. Shifting between micro and macro perspectives, the article discusses the role of ceremonial music, Qur’anic recitation, the call to prayer, and patronage networks in the projection of imperial power. It then discusses the social implications of debates about the religious permissibility of music and the distinction between elites and commoners. Elite music-making is situated within a larger context of kin relations, patronage networks, and intimate male companionship. Themes of sensual pleasure, intoxication, and eroticism are discussed as poetic and philosophical tropes that are embodied in the intersubjective space of musical performance. Finally, the article highlights the role of textual practices in the construction of Ottoman music as a discursive formation. A situating of Evliya’s writing practices within the larger textual archive of Ottoman music raises methodological and epistemological questions about the relationship between aural experience and inscription, and about notions of historiographic and ethnographic truth. These questions are connected to current disciplinary debates about writing, sound, and power, particularly in the context of empire.

Traditional culture of the ethnicities of Uzbekistan based on materials from expeditions of Soviet ethnographers in the 1980s.

This article focuses on the reporting materials compiled by ethnographers working at the State Museum of Ethnography of the Peoples of the USSR who in the 1980s participated in expeditions to the Republic of Uzbekistan. They set themselves the goal not only to collect information or artefacts valuable for studying the cultural history of particular region, but also to explore the transformation of national identity, that was a consequence of linguistic, cultural and economic integration of the ethnicities inhabiting Uzbekistan. After many years of expeditions the collections of the Russian Ethnographic Museum were replenished with valuable and unique objects. The article pays attention to corporeal, illustrative, and reporting materials that attest to traditions and innovations in the material culture of modern Uzbekistan, as well as interethnic relations. The authors adhered to the methodological principles of historical anthropology, which focus on the evolution and diversity of societies and social relations. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that, based on the study of sources introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, the authors came to the conclusion that the expeditions not only contributed to the preservation of the material culture of the region under study, but also recorded the difficulties in interethnic relations long before they became part of the official discourse of national policy in the USSR. The national-territorial demarcation carried out by the Soviet government in Central Asia in 1924 took place, for the most part, not in accordance with the ethnicity of the peoples living in the territory, but according to ideological and economic parameters. Consequently such a significant event, regardless of its overall effect, created the preconditions for interethnic problems, which were indicated in the named reports.

Nembe Cultural Festivals of Nigeria: African Culture Notes

Cultural festivals are increasingly becoming arenas of discourse for scholars to express their innate views about the cosmological component of a society on a wider social, cultural and political scales. Thus, galvanizing debates that invariably polarizes between those advocating change and those preserving tradition in the face of globalization. This paper however analyzes the significance of cultural festivals among the Nembe people of Ijo ethnicity of Nigeria. Thus, the paper informs that generally festival and its cultural contents is the livewire that have been appropriately utilized to keep alive the cultural history of what becomes the collective or historical memory of the people concerned; which links them to their past. This ostensibly underpins the collective sustainability of the meaning, importance, as well as the role festival plays in the history of Nembe society of all ages. The findings revealed that festival was and is a major source of history as well as history in its own right among non-literate societies of the globe for historical, aesthetic, as wel as existential purposes. The methodological approach in this paper was historical anthropology where primary and secondary data collection were subjected to varying content analysis for utilization informed the conclusion reached.

Pioneers of Color

Popular renditions on the history of forensic anthropology have traced the discipline’s roots back to early European anatomy and nineteenth to twentieth-century American research and applications to the legal system, often highlighting the works of several recurring figures. These forebearers are overwhelmingly composed of white men to the exclusion of, as we argue here, pioneers of color. As a counter to prevailing Eurocentric narratives, we present the biographies of diverse contemporaries who were equally foundational to the field, including Black Americans, immigrants, and luminaries outside of the Western world. Common themes among their experiences involved discrimination, a lack of opportunities and recognition, and a biocultural and humanistic praxis that demonstrate modern discourses within the forensic anthropology community are not novel. Ultimately, this work shows that the historical foundations of forensic anthropology, in both the United States and globally, include a far more diverse cast of pioneers than what the prevailing literature suggests and should serve as a springboard from which our discipline can grow, both in its past and in its future.

The politics of face and the trouble with race: Exploring relations at the interface between the individual and the collective in forensic practice.

This special issue interrogates race through the lens of face. Its central faces are those in forensic settings. Promising immediate legibility and access to the individual suspect, forensic faces nevertheless mobilize a variety of collectives. We offer conceptual and methodological tools to examine the face as both an individual and a collective phenomenon, and demonstrate through detailed cases how the face thus allows us to address the absent presence of race. Given its long and convoluted history in physical anthropology, as a marker of racial typology, the face forces us to reckon with colonial histories of ordering human difference. But the face also allows us to question a regime of visuality that congeals around the face in Western culture. In this introduction to The Politics of Face and the Trouble with Race we elaborate these concerns and introduce the contributions to this volume.

Notes on the Iconography of Witchcraft in Romanian Art

In this article we seek to describe the methodology that gives shape to the various components of the documentation of the book and identifies the different fields to which the issues discussed belong: art history (iconography, religious art), late antique and medieval literature (apocryphal texts), ethno-anthropology (with ramifications in visual anthropology, ethnology, folklore studies) and the history of mentalities (where research into witchcraft takes place chiefly within historical anthropology). The aspects discussed in this reading note: the social and cultural contextualisation of iconography, through an exploration of its social, cultural and mentality-related forms of expression, which connect it at a profound level to traditional peasant/pastoral societies; eschatological iconography concerned with witchcraft in Romania, seen as an eschatological replacement, with preventative and punitive functions, for the punitive institutions of Central and Eastern Europe that were responsible for eradicating the phenomenon of witchcraft; a comparative treatment of eschatological themes in Romanian iconography, in the regional context of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, through a comparison between them and those of the region south of the Danube (Bulgaria) and of the northern Slav area (Ruthenia); the absence from iconography of the distinction between the morphological classes of magic, based on their trans-human magical agents, that we find in oral narrative traditions; a systematic handling of local eschatological iconography and oral narrative repertoires; the issue of cultural transmission and the structure and composition of mechanisms of transmission, whose orality consists not only of words but also of images; discussion of the linguistic and iconographic typologies advanced by the book’s authors.

Methodical Principles and of Digital Education: from the Experience of Teaching Philosophical Disciplines

The article is devoted to the study of digital education. The features of various forms of teaching academic and university disciplines, including philosophical ones, based on information technologies that enable distance learning are considered. The article analyses the peculiarities of cooperation between teachers and students in the digital education system, where living, real individuals function as media personages. It is revealed that such personages exist on the basis of digital visual anthropology, rather than the anthropology of bodily presence, which is the basis of traditional academic education. The article examines the methodical principles of digital, distance education – mediation, representativeness, and reflexivity – which make it possible to teach academic disciplines effectively at a distance. It has been found that the application of these methodical principles involves compliance with specific laws of digital education – proper digital behavior, legitimation of digital presentation, permanent digital movement as well as digital feedback. Both the advantages and disadvantages of digital education, especially for teaching philosophical disciplines, such as the history of philosophy and philosophical anthropology, are identified. It is revealed how teaching philosophical disciplines can be effective if the principles and laws of digital education are observed, but taking into account the requirements of the anthropology of presence, remains a basic prerequisite for any variant of the modern educational process. It is argued that overcoming this anthropology requires a radical «dematerialization» of participants in online education, which is not yet an achievable goal.

NEMBE CULTURAL FESTIVALS OF NIGERIA: AFRICAN CULTURE NOTES

Cultural festivals are increasingly becoming arenas of discourse for scholars to express their innate views about the cosmological component of a society on a wider social, cultural and political scales. Thus, galvanizing debates that invariably polarizes between those advocating change and those preserving tradition in the face of globalization. This paper however analyzes the significance of cultural festivals among the Nembe people of Ijo ethnicity of Nigeria. Thus, the paper informs that generally festival and its cultural contents is the livewire that have been appropriately utilized to keep alive the cultural history of what becomes the collective or historical memory of the people concerned; which links them to their past. This ostensibly underpins the collective sustainability of the meaning, importance, as well as the role festival plays in the history of Nembe society of all ages. The findings revealed that festival was and is a major source of history as well as history in its own right among non-literate societies of the globe for historical, aesthetic, as wel as existential purposes. The methodological approach in this paper was historical anthropology where primary and secondary data collection were subjected to varying content analysis for utilization informed the conclusion reached.

Book Review: Mildred Trotter and the Invisible Histories of Physical and Forensic Anthropology

A Review of Mildred Trotter and the Invisible Histories of Physical and Forensic Anthropology, Emily K. Wilson, ISBN 9781032180892, CRC Press, 2022.

‘A twenty-four hour job’. Hildred and Clifford Geertz’s first foray into the field and the scholarly persona of the ethnographer

ABSTRACT The paper details how, during the 'Modjokuto Project' of 1952–1954, Hildred and Clifford Geertz embodied in their decisions and actions the ‘Malinowskian palimpsest’ of the lonely ethnographer, thus creating a series of oppositions between their individualistic understanding of the ethnographer and the needs of teamwork in the field. Apart from the historical record, this reconstruction aims at focusing on several questions in the history of cultural anthropology and the social sciences: How do ethnographers come to understand their professional role and the specific scientific virtues attached to it? How are scholarly personae and other cognitive-normative schemas put to the test (and modified) during fieldwork? How does the lack of methodological reflection on the ways of the anthropologist impact on the completion of specific research projects and, more generally, the reproduction of professional lore and structures?

Early contacts with Yanomami: an ignored and little appreciated history of ethnographic reports

In 1968, Napoleon Chagnon published his influential book Yanomamö: The Fierce People. Later, this book and Chagnon’s other publications were widely criticized. However, even his critics frequently describe Chagnon’s research as the first serious anthropological study of these Amazon rainforest people. This categorization, even if it is almost universally repeated up until this day, is far from reality. A vast and highly significant amount of information was already gathered and published on Yanomami before Chagnon even thought about starting his field research. Yet, these publications remain largely unknown, ignored, dismissed or underappreciated, perhaps partly because most were not in English. Here we review articles, scientific papers and books published before 1968, a literature essential for understanding the torturous path of anthropological studies portraying the Yanomami and reassessing Chagnon's place in the history of Anthropology.

Дети в контексте празднования Дня поминовения усопших в Сицилии: статус, поверья, обрядовые практики в прошлом и настоящем

The author considers the place of children in the context of the celebration of the Day of Remembrance of the Dead in Sicily in the past and present; it is their central role in the local scenario of the healing of this formally Christian, but actually dating back to ancient cults holiday that makes the research region unique. The purpose of the analysis, in addition to detailed coverage of all the components of the celebration scenario, which has repeatedly attracted the attention of the researchers, but has not yet been comprehensively studied, is primarily to “decipher” the status and function of children involved in the festive action in the paradigm of anthropology, i.e. as “connectors” between the world of the dead and the world of the living ones, as well as associated beliefs, rituals and actions, in particular, the practice of gifting children. The study is based on the results of the author’s long-term fieldwork (from 2000 to 2022), as well as on data from ethnographic/historical sources. Using methods of structural and functional analysis, the author relies on concepts and theoretical and methodological principles developed in the depths of cultural and historical anthropology on the problems of religious studies, ancient cults, festive rituals, etc.; the historical approach allows us to identify the fundamental laws of the evolution of ritual practices, and regional studies — to correlate theoretical conclusions with the realities of the region under study.

Sentyivskyi Shantse as a component of the defensive structures of New Serbia: Historical and archaeological aspects

The relevance of the research topic is manifested in the context of the unique geopolitical position of Potyasmynia and the broader region of the “Zadniprovian lands” of the Hetmanate and New Serbia in the mid- to late 18th century. This period was characterised by acute political and military transformations, which led to intensive construction of fortifications, including the Sentyi Shantse. Considering the importance of understanding the historical context and significance of defensive structures in this region, the study of the Sentyi Shantse becomes an essential element in unravelling historical events and processes. The aim of the study is a comprehensive elucidation of the historical significance of the Sentyi Shantse, the stages of its historical existence and fate, relying on the use of historiography, cartography, and archaeology data. In addition to general scientific methods, the authors employed special-historical methods, namely: chronological, historical-typological, and cartographic methods, which allowed for balanced and well-founded research results. The research included a historiographic analysis of scientific works, identifying the specificity and differences in the vectors of shantse research in scientific sources from the second half of the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century and contemporary history. The predominance of the goals of historical anthropology was established. The specificity of the two main periods of studying the Sentyi Shantse in the system of defensive structures of Potyasmynia in the mid- to late 18th century was determined and characterised. Six chronological stages in the history of the shantse were identified and characterised. The results of its archaeological research were introduced into scientific circulation and analysed. The practical value of the work lies in the possibility of applying the research results in the study and writing of works on local history topics, in the preparation of lectures on regional and Ukrainian history, as well as in their use in highlighting the history of the region in museum activities

Decolonization and the History of Anthropology: The Implications of New Deal Anthropology from the 1930s to the 1950s

Decolonization and the History of Anthropology: The Implications of New Deal Anthropology from the 1930s to the 1950s

Działalność Pracowni Dziejów Oświaty i Antropologii Kultury Instytutu Historii Nauki PAN w 2022 r.

Research Activity of the History of Education and Anthropology of Culture Research Unit at the Institute for the History of Science PAS in 2022 The article presents the research areas, scientific achievements, popularization efforts, and organizational accomplishments of the members of the Research Unit in 2022. The conducted research covered the period from the mid-18th c. to almost modern times, with the majority of the Unit members focusing on research related to the 20th c.

How to be a good guest: American ethnographers in Turkey in the long 1968

AbstractThe article uncovers a forgotten chapter in the history of anthropology by revealing the experiences of American ethnographers in Turkey between 1967 and 1969. Using original archival documents and oral history interviews, it focuses on the trials of Professor Lloyd A. Fallers as well as doctoral students Michael Meeker, Peter Benedict, and June Starr in navigating Turkish bureaucracy and global politics. Conceptually, the article evaluates the case of anthropologists in Cold War Turkey from the perspective of hospitality studies with a particular focus on guest‐to‐guest relationships. Adopting the guests’ points of view shows us that hospitality assemblages are forged by other‐oriented thinking and behaviour, which involves misunderstandings, empathy, and projection. The article conceives the hospitality relationship as an encounter among perceptions of hospitality.

THE PRACTICE OF CARING FOR THE ELDERLY POPULATION AND PEOPLE WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

The purpose of the review is to analyze the practices of caring for the elderly population and people with cognitive impairments in the focus of the XXI century among the peoples of different countries.
 
 Materials and methods. Using the method of scientometric analysis, 20 articles from WoS and Scopus on historical anthropology, demography, and social security were studied. The information is synthesized and taken in accordance with the purpose of the study.
 
 Results. Learning the transformation in the practices of caring for the elderly population and people with cognitive impairments is a relevant interdisciplinary direction in anthropology. The relevance of the topic is emphasized by current demographic changes, the evolution of cultural values and modernization of care systems for the older generation. The data obtained show the evolution of society in relation to the elderly population with possible mental disorders. The selected models of care contribute to understanding the trends in the development of the society. For Europe, significant partners as a source of care in old age and the existence of “Money for care” and “Kind care” schemes, organized individual and family consultations by phone or ad hoc. In Canadian society, according to existing government programs, the emphasis in palliative care is placed on long-term care homes. Assistance in Africa is becoming a collective responsibility of family members, with frequent use of biomedical and non-medical methods of treatment. The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are characterized by a fragmented system of facilitation and assistance to older people.
 
 Conclusions. The author notes social isolation of the older generation and the state unpredictability of using the knowledge resource as intellectual capital in the economy. At the same time, there is a timely response of the UN to the ongoing demographic processes and promotion of the WHO program to create the concept of a “city favorable for older people”. Properly organized guardianship will help the elderly to maintain self-esteem. The demographic and economic processes taking place in the historical moment are changing the attitude of society to this problem.
 
 The author expects that a positive orientation of caring for the elderly population and people with cognitive impairments observed in the XXI century will not change its course.
 
 The information provided in this article is useful for specialists working in the field of history, sociology, healthcare, guardianship, etc., as well as in the framework of improving information support in the specialty 5.6.4. Ethnology, anthropology and ethnography.

The History of Anthropology: A Critical Window on the Discipline in North America, by Regna Darnell

The History of Anthropology: A Critical Window on the Discipline in North America, by Regna Darnell

Categorical confusions: gender and the colonial construction of the ‘Chinese Buddhist’ in Burma

British law in colonial Burma separated the legal personhood of imperial subjects by religious status. However, colonial law failed to clarify boundaries around religious categories. This lack of clarity was amplified when the court was forced to consider how to apply Buddhist law between different Buddhist communities, like the Chinese and Burmese. Owing to differences in how marriage, divorce, succession, and other rights are handled in Chinese- versus Burmese legal traditions, recognition as either Chinese or Burmese carried significant weight. Through a historical anthropology of Chinese-Burmese Buddhist family law in colonial Burma, this article argues that the British colonial judiciary’s failure to appreciate connections between Burmese and Chinese Buddhists produced novel legal segregations of mixed communities. Further, this categorical splitting was generated along gendered lines, where judicial acceptance of men’s claims of Chinese separateness disenfranchised native, mixed, and migrant women who sought to foreground their connections to Burma.

"She leads expediction": Maria Czaplicka trajectory in the history of anthropology

"She leads expediction": Maria Czaplicka trajectory in the history of anthropology