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on the uses of history in anthropology: the palio of Siena
Author(s) -
SILVERMAN SYDEL
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
american ethnologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.875
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1548-1425
pISSN - 0094-0496
DOI - 10.1525/ae.1979.6.3.02a00010
Subject(s) - viewpoints , perspective (graphical) , anthropology , field (mathematics) , sociology , epistemology , history , computer science , philosophy , art , mathematics , artificial intelligence , pure mathematics , visual arts
To illustrate the potential of joining history and anthropology in the study of complex societies, a particular ritual complex is considered from three different theoretical viewpoints — all essentially ahistoric — and then analyzed from a historical perspective. Comparing various approaches to the Sienese palio suggests that history need not be limited to providing “background” or addressing questions of origin; it can be used by anthropologists to critically examine their theories, sharpen their methods, and develop new lines of analysis. This requires, however, that historical material be evaluated by standards applied to field data and recast in anthropological terms.