Research Catalog

Title

Tracking the ancestors : on their journeys along the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea / Jürg Wassmann ; with contributions by Markus Schindlbeck [and 5 others].

Author

Wassmann, Jürg

Publication

Heidelberg : Universitätsverlag Winter, [2022]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

Schindlbeck, Markus

Description

xvii, 602 pages : illustrations, maps; 21 cm.

Summary

This rich ethnography, a thoroughly revised version of a book published in 1991, presents long-term and new research findings on the Nyaura (or West Iatmul) people, a society on the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea. Nyaura mythology centres around the primeval journeys of their ancestors who - accompanied by powerful, versatile crocodiles - formed the landscape and founded settlements; it is expressed and stored in numerous long song cycles and visualised in unique knotted cords. These songs express the Nyaura's worldview, their thoughts on the social order, and the concept of the person. In this comprehensive monograph, the author also explores a range of current and fundamental questions from the cognitive sciences regarding the memorisation of these hundreds of songs, thus linking anthropological data with cognitive science findings. Neuropsychologists share their reflections on learning, memorising and remembering. Studies on the historiography of the Middle Sepik, on the altered concept of personhood as result of religious change, and on the dualistic structure of ceremonial music round off the monograph.

Series Statement

Heidelberg Studies in Pacific Anthropology ; 7

Uniform Title

Heidelberg studies in Pacific anthropology

Subject

Mythology, Papuan

Note

• The daily life of Jurg Wassmann during the time of the deluge 1972-73.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN

• 9783825349530
• 3825349535

LCCN

9783825349530

OCLC

• 1341032136
• on1341032136
• SCSB-14454443

Owning Institutions

Princeton University Library