article

Social change and primitive law: consequences of a Papuan legal case

American anthropologist • 60 • Published In 1958 • Pages: 832-837

By: Pospisil, Leopold J..

Abstract

This article discusses the consequences of the breaking of an incest taboo by the headman of one of the large Kapauku villages. The eventual acceptance of this marriage by the tribe started a trend toward endogamy and intra-sib marriage and weakening of the ties between the members of the Ijaaj-Pigome confederacy. Encouraged by his success, the headman is also trying to change the settlement pattern of his village and to introduce what amounts to a moiety division. Pospisil concludes the article by discussing the theoretical implications of these changes.

HRAF PubDate

2019

Region

Oceania

Sub Region

Melanesia

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Timothy J. O'Leary ; 1958

Field Date

1954-1955

Coverage Date

1935-1962

Coverage Place

Kamu Valley, central Highlands, Irian Jaya, Indonesia

Notes

Leopold Pospisil

Includes bibliographical references (p. 837)

LCCN

17015424

LCSH

Kapauku (New Guinea people)