Adaptive Responses of Native Amazonians (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Adaptive Responses of Native Amazonians 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 6
Contributors 12
Preface 14
CHAPTER 1. Introduction 18
Introduction 18
Some Characteristics of Amazonian Ecosystems 19
Environmental Models of Amazonian Sociocultural Evolution 24
Environmental Models of Amazonian 
29 
The Problem of Adaptation 41
Part I: Cultivation 44
CHAPTER 2. Machiguenga Gardens 46
Introduction 46
Garden Making 49
Planting 56
Weeding 67
Harvest 70
The Life Cycle of a Garden 72
Input–Output 76
Conclusion 78
Notes 80
CHAPTER 3. The Cultivation of Manioc among the Kuikuru of the Upper 
82 
Introduction 82
The Habitat 82
Clearing the Forest 85
Plot Characteristics 92
Planting 93
Crop Care 100
Overall Cycle of Cultivation 107
Harvesting 110
The Processing of Manioc 113
Varieties of Manioc 116
Storage 118
Manioc and the Supernatural 119
Abandonment and Reforestation 120
Overview and Interpretation 122
Notes 125
CHAPTER 4. Adaptive Strategies of Wakuenai People to the Oligotrophic Rain Forest of the Rio 
130 
Introduction 130
The Rio Negro Basin 131
The Rio Negro Population 136
Uxorilocal Residence: Father-in-Law 
141 
Patrilocal/Uxorilocal Residence: Father-in-Law Leadership in Horizontal/Vertical 
144 
Conclusions 148
Acknowledgments 151
Notes 151
Part II: Hunting and Fishing 154
CHAPTER 5. Neotropical Hunting among the Ache of 
156 
Introduction 156
Environmental and Historical Background 157
Ecology and Area of Study 159
Prey Species and Hunting Techniques 161
Daily Hunting Routine 170
Data Collection 172
Time Allocation for Subsistence 175
Hunting Returns and Comparison 
180 
The Optimal Diet Model and Hunting 
182 
Variance in Hunting Returns 
188 
Band Size and Hunting Returns 191
Pursuit Group Size 194
Summary and Discussion 200
Acknowledgments 205
Notes 205
CHAPTER 6. Shotguns, Blowguns, and Spears: The 
206 
Introduction 206
Relevant Environmental and Cultural 
209 
Hunting Behavior and Technology 210
Data Collection 223
The Kill and Its Meaning 226
Impact of the Shotgun 237
Comparison of the Blowgun to the Bow 239
Conclusion 239
Acknowledgments 240
Notes 241
CHAPTER 7. Why Do the Mekranoti Trek? 242
Introduction 242
Explanations for Trekking 245
Cross-Cultural Tests 252
Conclusion 255
Note 255
CHAPTER 8. Cocamilla Fishing: Patch Modification and 
256 
Introduction 256
Theoretical Background 257
Data Collection 258
Historical Background of the Cocamilla 259
The Ecological Context 262
Fishing Sites and Techniques 265
Techniques and Personnel Involved in Lake 
268 
Storage of Fish 271
Buffering Environmental Fluctuations 272
Gross Fishing Production 279
Discussion 280
Summary and Conclusions 283
Acknowledgments 283
Notes 284
CHAPTER 9. Carpe Diem: An Optimal Foraging 
286 
Introduction 286
Theoretical Background 289
Methods and Findings 298
Discussion 313
Acknowledgments 316
CHAPTER 10. Adaptation and Ethnozoological Classification: Theoretical Implications of Animal Resources and Diet of the Aguaruna 
318 
Introduction 318
The Setting 319
Research Sites 321
Data Base 321
Sketch of Aguaruna and Huambisa 
323 
Animal Consumption Patterns 323
Comparative Patterns of Animal Utilization 330
Discussion 332
Conclusions 341
Acknowledgments 341
Notes 342
Part III: Nutrition 344
CHAPTER 11. Nutrition in the Northwest Amazon: Household Dietary Intake and Time–Energy 
346 
Introduction 346
Background 347
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 349
FOOD RESOURCES 352
Data Collection 353
Results 356
HOUSEHOLD FOOD SUPPLIES 356
SOURCES OF FOOD ENERGY AND PROTEIN 359
ADEQUACY OF ENERGY AND PROTEIN INTAKES 360
TIME AND ENERGY EXPENDITURE OF 
362 
Discussion 366
Acknowledgments 371
Notes 371
CHAPTER 12. Seasonal Factors in Subsistence, Nutrition, and Child Growth in a Central Brazilian 
374 
Introduction 374
The Study Community 376
Subsistence Practices 378
Health and Growth 390
Discussion 399
Conclusions 405
Acknowledgments 406
Notes 406
IV: Settlement Pattern 408
CHAPTER 13. The Settlement Pattern of a Yanomamö Population Bloc: A Behavioral Ecological 
410 
Introduction 410
Components of Settlement Pattern 411
The Haiyamo Population Bloc 422
Discussion 436
Conclusion 443
Acknowledgments 444
CHAPTER 14. Village Movement in Relation to Resources 
446 
Introduction 446
Central Brazilian Settlement Pattern 449
Garden Soil Depletion 456
Conclusion 463
Acknowledgments 465
Notes 466
CHAPTER 15. The Territorial Dimensions of Siona–Secoya 
468 
Introduction 468
The Modem Settlement 470
Patterns of Resource Use 472
Historical Data on Western Tucanoan 
476 
Resource Allocation and Maintenance 481
The Question of Territorial Defense 489
Conclusion 494
Acknowledgments 494
Notes 495
References 496
Index 526