Robert Gardner (2) (1925–2014)

This is a record of the 1961 expedition by the Harvard University's Peabody museum to the Dani - Stone Age warrior farmers - in the Central Highlands of New Guinea. This particular village was chosen as it had had, at that time, little interaction with government officials and missionaries. The small group included anthropologists, photographers and interpreters. Their first encounter is described.

The photographic record, with accompanying text is ordered and presented under 6 headings: Appearances, Skills, Nourishment, Play, Ghosts, Violence.

An informal hierarchy among the men is based on reputation and personal wealth in pigs and cowrie shells. The richer men can afford several wives.

Personal adornment is at certain times practiced but art is almost absent.

Ghosts - powerful but not omnipotent - are experienced reality in everyday life. They are respected but are better be kept at a distance.

The then ca. 50 000 Dani are divided into some dozen alliances. Ritual ‘wars’ between the alliances have no resemblance to our understanding of war: fighting is perceived as an obligation to the ghosts.

Wars, with agriculture and pig raising, constitute the focus of their lives. Without it, their culture may loose its meaning.

Unfortunately, in this Pinguin paperback edition at least, many of the more than 300 photographs are reproduced too small and not of the quality expected today. The book constitutes, nevertheless, an important document. (IV-17)… (meer)