Southern Anthropology: A History of Fison and Howitt's Kamilaroi and Kurnai

Helen Gardner, Patrick McConvell

Research output: Book/Research ReportAuthored Book

Abstract

From far-flung sites in Australia and the Pacific Islands, Lorimer Fison and A. W. Howitt produced the landmark study, Kamilaroi and Kurnai (1880). Their book revealed the complexity of Aboriginal and Pacific Island societies and changed the course of anthropology in the early years of the discipline. Using archival sources and an innovative approach, Southern Anthropology explores the research, writing and reception of Kamilaroi and Kurnai. Historical chapters track Fison and Howitt's collection and analysis of anthropological material in the context of raging debates about the evolution of humans. This narrative is interspersed with an introduction to the kinship and social organisation of Aboriginal and Pacific Island people that highlight the enduring value of Fison and Howitt's methods and the resurgence of their questions in contemporary anthropology.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationU.K.
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Number of pages352
ISBN (Print)9781137463807
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Bibliographical note

© Helen Gardner and Patrick McConvell 2015

Keywords

  • Australia
  • Pacific Area
  • anthropology
  • evolution
  • kinship

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