Definition: The enormously influential Bronislaw Malinowski was born in Cracow, Poland in 1884. While his subject anthropological studies were focused primarily on the Trobriand Islanders of Polynesia, Malinowski's contribution to archaeology is the concept of functionalism; that is to say, the idea that all of the various ceremonies and rituals created by various cultures have some sort of logical function within the culture. It is hard to say how right he was today, although modern anthropology would certainly pooh-pooh any one-to-one relationship between ceremony and function.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
