Book

Headhunter's heritage; social and economic change among the Mundurucú Indians

University of California PressBerkeley • Published In 1960 • Pages:

By: Murphy, Robert Francis.

Abstract
This source is a sociological oriented study and analysis of the effects of social change on the economy and social structure of Mundurucu society. The agents of social change, as represented in this source, are primarily the trader and missionary both of whom are of non-Indian origin. In his preliminary discussion of the Mundurucu, the author gives a brief resume of the culture history and ethnology of the Indians, with special emphasis on the Indian-White contact period, Mundurucu economy, kinship and marriage, the local group, social solidarity and social fission within the group, and changing settlement patterns, resulting from Mundurucu acculturation. A very thorough and scholarly analysis of the effects of social change on traditional Mundurucu society summarizes and concludes the work. The material on which this source is based was gathered by the author, a professional anthropologist, and his wife during a field trip to the Mundurucu Indians of the Tapajos River area in 1952-53.
Subjects
History
Acculturation and culture contact
Sociocultural trends
Functional and adaptational interpretations
Settlement patterns
Social relationships and groups
Ingroup antagonisms
Arranging a marriage
Nuptials
culture
Mundurucu
HRAF PubDate
2003
Region
South America
Sub Region
Amazon and Orinoco
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle; 1961
Field Date
1952-1953
Coverage Date
1952-1953
Coverage Place
Tapajós River area, State of Para, Brazil
Notes
Robert F. Murphy
Includes bibliographical references (p. 194-196)
LCCN
59015691
LCSH
Munduruku Indians