clans

Scope Note

Presence of unilineal kin groups of traditional, but not actually traceable, common descent; number and distribution; type of affiliation (e.g., matrilineal, patrilineal); regulation of marriage by clan membership (e.g., exogamy, agamy, endogamy); distinguishing characteristics (e.g., names, insignia, totemism, food taboos); origin and traditions; organization; headship and succession; prerogatives and obligations of members; unilineal kin groups intermediate between clans and phratries; relations between clans, etc. American anthropologists have sometimes used the term "sib" instead of clan to describe this type of kinship group.

Identifier

Broader Term

• 610 kin groups

Related Terms

• 621 community structure