Book

The Nganasan: the material culture of the Tavgi Samoyeds

Indiana University • 56 • Published In 1966 • Pages: ix, 168 , 18 plates (nos. 19-36)

By: Popov, A. A., Ristinen, Elaine K..

Abstract
During the mid 1930s the paucity of information on the Nganasan Samoyeds, who have been known and observed cursorily for over a hundred years but with little recorded data of scientific note, led the Institute of Ethnography of the USSR Academy of Sciences to commission the author, a trained ethnographer, to study this group. The authors field work was carried out in the Taymyr National Okrug (Taymyr peninsula) over a period of two years (1936-1938), during which time he traveled more that 8,000 kilometers, living among the people and learning their language. From his close relationship with the Nganasan he was able to gather exceptionally valuable and varied data regarding their culture, part of which, dealing with material culture, makes up the major portion of this source. Originally it was the intention of the author to present his monograph in two parts, the first dealing with material culture, and the second with a description of social structure, religion and the pictorial and plastic arts. Unfortunately the author died in 1960 prior to his completion of this second half, but it is hoped that in the near future this material will eventually be published. (Popovs obituary in Sovetskaia Etnografiia, 1961, claims that the manuscript was prepared for publication). Topics covered in this source are: geography; cultural history; location; population; annual cycle of economic activities (including data on hunting, fowling, fishing and fishing equipment, weapons, boats, composition of the nomadic group, property, and food distribution and concomitant obligations), reindeer husbandry and transportation; use of tools and processing of basic materials; house construction; the household; fire making; routine of travel; foods and food preparation; clothing; and hair styles and ornaments. Footnotes appear together at the end of each chapter in the text.
culture
Samoyed
HRAF PubDate
2019
Region
Asia
Sub Region
North Asia
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 1967
Field Date
1936-1938
Notes
A. A. Popov ; Translated by Elaine K. Ristinen
Includes bibliographical references
LCCN
66063668
LCSH
Nganasani--Material culture