Alan Barnard - Social Anthropology and Human Origins [2011].pdf - Antropologia - Evie050776

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Social Anthropology and Human Origins

The study of human origins is one of the most fascinating branches

of anthropology. Yet it has rarely been considered by social or cultural

anthropologists, who represent the largest subield of the discipline.

In this powerful study Alan Barnard aims to bridge this gap. Barnard

argues that social anthropological theory has much to contribute to our

understanding of human evolution, including changes in technology,

subsistence and exchange, family and kinship, as well as to the study of

language, art, ritual and belief. This book places social anthropology in

the context of a widely conceived constellation of anthropological sci-

ences. It incorporates recent indings in many ields, including primate

studies, archaeology, linguistics and human genetics. In clear, accessible

style Barnard addresses the fundamental questions surrounding the evo-

lution of human society and the prehistory of culture, suggesting a new

direction for social anthropology that will open up debate across the dis-

cipline as a whole.

a l a n b a r n a r d is Professor of the Anthropology of Southern Africa

at the University of Edinburgh, where he has taught since 1978. He

has undertaken a wide range of ethnographic ieldwork and archaeo-

logical research in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, is a partici-

pant in the British Academy Centenary Research Project ‘From Lucy

to language: the archaeology of the social brain’ and serves as Honorary

Consul of the Republic of Namibia in Scotland. His numerous publica-

tions include History and theory in anthropology (2000) and Anthropology

and the Bushman (2007).

Social Anthropology and

Human Origins

Alan Barnard

Professor of the Anthropology of Southern Africa

University of Edinburgh

Alan Barnard - Social Anthropology and Human Origins [2011].pdf