University of Oxford

Ecological and historical studies

Evolutionary, biological, and ecological interests link several further projects: for example Robert Barnes is currently engaged in writing a series of articles on the history of the islands in the East Flores and Lembata regencies in eastern Indonesia, as well as collaborating on genetic research into the populations between Flores and East Timor which speak either Austronesian or Papuan languages. David Parkin and Stanley Ulijaszek are also engaged on projects which relate to recent holistic trends in anthropology through focusing on population history and material culture. Comparable work is being undertaken by Laura Rival and Elizabeth Ewart in Lowland South America.

Work on historical aspects of social anthropology itself is reflected in the ISCA-linked series of books published by Berghahn on 'Method and History in Anthropology'. Wendy James has recently co-edited (with David Boucher and Philip Smallwood) an edition of unpublished work by R.G. Collingwood, which includes an evaluation of his links with anthropology; and also an overview of today's anthropology (The Ceremonial Animal). Robert Barnes, W.S.F. Pickering, and Anne de Sales are engaged in a series of workshops bringing together British and French anthropologists in order to re-evaluate a common history.