Anthropos: Anthropos, 45.1950,1-3

Anthropos, 45.1950,1-3

Bibliographic Data

Journal

Structure Type:: Journal

Works URN (URL):: https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:11-714789

URN:: urn:nbn:de:kobv:11-714789

Persistent identifier:: BV041701500

Title:: Anthropos

Other Titles:: Anthropos

Place of Publication:: Fribourg

Publisher:: Ed. St. Paul, Anthropos-Institut

Year of Publication:: 1906

Collection:: Journals and Newspapers > Journals of Ethnology

Domain:: Social and cultural anthropology > General overview

Journal Volume

Structure Type:: Journal Volume

Works URN (URL):: https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:11-709559

URN:: urn:nbn:de:kobv:11-709559

Persistent identifier:: DE-11-001871424

Title:: Anthropos, 45.1950,1-3

Year of Publication:: 1950

Call Number:: LA 1118-45,1-3

Collection:: Journals and Newspapers > Journals of Ethnology

Journal Issue

Structure Type:: Journal Issue

Title:: Bd. 45, 1950, Heft 1 - 3

Collection:: Journals and Newspapers > Journals of Ethnology

Journal Article

Structure Type:: Journal Article

Title:: Analecta et Additamenta

Other person:: Heine-Geldern, R. v.; Koppers, W.; Bulck, V. van; Ruben, Walter; Graf, Walter; Hermanns, Matthias; E.

Collection:: Journals and Newspapers > Journals of Ethnology

352 [45, 1950] Analecta et Additamenta. Mexican astronomy, carried out by Dr. Fritz Rock, former Director of the Vienna ethnographical museum. If verified, these would form a new and important link between the cultures of Asia and Mexico. Although not directly concerned with Old and New World relations, the lecture delivered by Professor José M. Cruxent, Director of the Museum in Caracas, Vene zuela, should be mentioned in this context because of its far reaching implications. Dr. Cruxent announced the discovery, among the Motilones Indians of western Vene zuela, of a system of picture writing which in general character, as well as in details, so closely resembles the picture writing of the Cuna Indians of eastern Panama and the script of Easter Island that the existence of some kind of connection can hardly be doubted. Because of the strong emphasis laid, for the first time, on the importance of Old and New World cultural relations, the recent Congress may well be considered as forming a turning point in the history of Americanist studies. The gulf which, for so many years, seemed irrevocably to separate the ancient civilizations of Asia and America, has at last been bridged. This result is to a very large extent due to the courageous decision of the Department of Anthropology of the American Museum of Natural History to arrange, for this special occasion an exhibit on the subject in question. The exhibit, under the title “Across the Pacific”, was prepared by members of the Museum’s staff, Gordon F. Ekholm, Junius B. Bird, Harry Tschopik, and Robert Heine-Geldern, with important contributions by Carl Schuster. Its goal was to show the multiplicity of Old World influences which reached America at various periods and from different regions. Separate units were devoted to such subjects as Polynesian influence in America and to. comparisons in the fields of tools and weapons, of musical instruments, weaving, design, and the custom of head hunting. One section demonstrated the striking similarities between the art styles of the Northwest Coast of America and those of Sumatra, Borneo, New Guinea, New Ireland, and ancient China (Shang period). Another unit traced the diffusion of design motifs from China (Shang and Early Chou periods) through eastern Polynesia (Marquesas Islands) to eastern Panama and across northern South America to the mouth of the Amazon River. Even more striking is the influence, clearly demonstrated in the exhibit, of the art of Late Chou China in the Taj in style of Mexico and in the marble vases from the Ulloa Valley in Honduras. The date of this particular contact may be tentatively set in the 4th century В. C. Pottery vessels from Mexico, Guatemala, and Colombia were compared to others from China, Korea, and Japan which date from the Han period. They prove that the traffic between East Asia and America must have continued through several centuries. The. influence of the Hindu-Buddhist art and architecture of southern India (style of Amàravatï) and of Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Sumatra, Java, Bali, etc.) in Mexico and among the Mayas were demonstrated by a large series of photographs. These were supplemented by a special unit showing the use of the parasol, fan, and litter as insignia of royalty and rank in India, East and Southeast Asia, Middle America, and Peru. The exhibit served as a welcome supplementrary illustration for the various papers delivered in the course of the Congress. It is hoped that it may initiate a period of closer cooperation between specialists in the fields of Asiatic, Oceanian, and American cultures. Prof. Dr. R. v. Heine-Geldern, Wien.

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: Anthropos, 45.1950,1-3

Journal

Journal Volume

Journal Issue

Journal Article

Table of Contents

Cite and reuse

Journal Volume

Journal Article

Image View

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation