Yanomamo Warfare

YANOMAMO WARFARE A constant cannot explain a variable. Proximate vs. Ultimate cause Positive vs. Negative feedback systems Resource Competition Protein Scarcity vs. Protein Deficiancy * * * * * Infrastructure  Structure  Superstructure Resource  Conflict  Weiteri Complex Competition Warfare and Alliances

Chagnon vs. Harris Causes of Yanomamo Warfare Chagnon:--Fighting over Women --”We like meat, but we like women better.” Harris:--Protein Scarcity --Mechanism of Population Control --Male Supremacy Complex --female infanticide

Chagnon vs. Harris Problems with Their Explanations Chagnon:--Female shortage created by Yanomamo themselves. --Only raid villages for women with which raiding already exists. (Warfare, therefore, not explained.) --proximate explanation -- emic explanation Harris:--Protein Scarcity vs. Protein Deficiency (Big Mac) --Yanomamo Shamatari population increase -- from 200 to 2,000 people,

Evidence of Protein Scarcity 1.Five-day hunting expeditions with no success. 2.Primary game animal: Monkeys and other solitary animals 3.Lower protein consumption a. than other Amazonian Indians. b. Than the Dobe Ju/’hoansi 4.Reliance on insects for food. (cost/benefit) 5.Evidence of recent adaptation a. Boil bananas only b. Fish only with poison c. Poorly constructed canoes

Amazonian Indians Protein Consumption

Alliance Spiral Warfare Spiral Nomohoni Genearalized Reciprocal Reciprocity Woman Exchange Raid The Feast Spear Fights Balanced Mutual Feasting Reciprocity Ax Fights Club Fights Side-Slapping Duels Negative Sporadic and Chest-Pounding Duels Reciprocity Reciprocal Trading Yanomamo Politics: Alliance vs. Warfare

House Temperature Decreases Furnace Restores House Temperature Negative Feedback System

Neutron Bomb Positive Feedback System M.I.R.V. I.C.B.M. Hydrogen Bomb Atomic Bomb

Yanomamo Positive-Feedback System

Population Pressure Central Villages Peripheral Villages Larger Villages Smaller Villages 40 – Villages Closer Villages Dispersed higher density lower density Warfare Constant Raiding less Frequent Patanowa-teri raided some villages not involved 25 times in one year in raids for over 5 years Alliance System elaborate absent

Population Pressure (cont.) Central VillagesPeripheral Villages HeadmanHeadman greater authority little authority during warfare Cultivation Cultivation more importantless important Fighting Fighting more elaborate less elaborate Weiteri Complex more pronounced less pronounced

Population Pressure (cont.) Central VillagesPeripheral Villages Female Infanticide Female Infanticide greater less M/F M/F 0-14: 157 / : 121 / 100 all ages: 130 / 100 all ages: 115 / 100 Polyandry Polyandry absent practiced sexual liaisons is polyandry and sexual primary source of liaisons institutionalized conflict in village

Yanomamo Village Expansion

Yanomamo Sociopolitical Evolution