description Stephen Hugh-Jones Overview
Stephen Hugh-Jones is a British social anthropologist associated with the University of Cambridge who conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork among the Barasana and other Tukanoan-speaking peoples of the Northwest Amazon in Colombia. His research, conducted within the structuralist tradition influenced by Claude Lévi-Strauss, focuses on kinship systems, mythology, shamanism, and ritual, with particular attention to how indigenous Amazonian societies organize social and cosmological knowledge. He authored "The Palm and the Pleiades" (1979), a detailed study of Barasana initiation rituals and cosmology.
insights Ranking position
Stephen Hugh-Jones ranks #150 of 304 in the Anthropologist ranking, behind Faye Ginsburg, ahead of Robert Redfield.
help Stephen Hugh-Jones FAQ
What indigenous groups did anthropologist Stephen Hugh-Jones study?
Stephen Hugh-Jones conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork among the Barasana and other Tukanoan-speaking peoples of the Northwest Amazon in Colombia. His research provided deep insights into the social organization, rituals, and cosmology of these indigenous groups.
What is Stephen Hugh-Jones known for in Amazonian anthropology?
He is widely recognized for his structuralist analysis of Amazonian societies, heavily influenced by the French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss. Hugh-Jones specifically documented the complex patrilineal descent systems and the highly elaborate ceremonial exchanges among the Tukanoan tribes.
Where does Stephen Hugh-Jones teach?
Stephen Hugh-Jones is a British social anthropologist associated with the University of Cambridge. He spent much of his academic career at the Department of Social Anthropology, mentoring generations of students in Amazonian studies.
What is a major book written by Stephen Hugh-Jones?
One of his most significant academic contributions is the book 'The Palm and the Pleiades,' published in 1979. The book details the initiation rituals and cosmological beliefs of the Barasana people, demonstrating how their social structure is reflected in the stars and the agricultural cycle.
explore Explore More
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
