Abstract
This analysis of G//ana territorial organization shows how land rights are acquired and how they affect patterns of land use. Both spatial and social boundaries are discussed. It is shown that the appearance of overlapping spatial boundaries is clarified through a focus on the land rights of individuals and a consideration of historical population movements over the region. The discussion of social boundaries shows that, while interterritorial marriage and mobility networks are extensive, increases in property and food production appear to be associated with a closing of social boundaries (increased social nucleation). This is suggested by greater endogamy and a trend toward patrilineal inheritance of land rights in recent years.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brown, J. L. (1964). The evolution of diversity in avian territorial systems.Wilson Bulletin 76: 160–169.
Cashdan, E. (1980). Egalitarianism among hunters and gatherers.American Anthropologist 82: 116–120.
Cashdan, E. (1983). Territoriality among human foragers: Ecological models and an application to four Bushman groups.Current Anthropology 24: 47–66.
Cashdan, E. (1984). The effects of food production on mobility in the central Kalahari. In Clark, J. D., and Brandt, S. A. (eds.),From Hunters to Farmers. The Causes and consequences of Food Production in Africa. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Davies, N. B. (1978). Ecological questions about territorial behaviour. In Krebs, J. R., and Davies, N. B. (eds.),Behavioural Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach. Sinauer, Sunderland, Massachusetts, pp. 317–350.
Dyson-Hudson, R., and Smith, E. A. (1978). Human territoriality: An ecological reassessment.American Anthropologist 80: 21–41.
Heinz, H. J. (1972). Territoriality among the Bushmen in general and the !Ko in particular.Anthropos 67: 405–416.
Lee, R. B. (1972). !Kung spatial organization: An ecological and historical perspective.Human Ecology 1: 125–147.
Lee, R. B. (1979).The !Kung San: Men, Women, and Work in a Foraging Society. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Lee, R. B., and DeVore, I. (eds.). (1968).Man the Hunter. Aldine, Chicago.
Peterson, J. (1980). Food sharing and directed marriage choice. Paper presented at the Second International Conference on Hunting and Gathering Societies, Quebec.
Peterson, N. (1975). Hunter-gatherer territoriality: The perspective from Australia.American Anthropologist 77: 53–68.
Pike, J. (1971). Rainfall over Botswana.Botswana Notes and Records (special edition no. 1). The Botswana Society, Gaborone, pp. 69–76.
Silberbauer, G. B. (1972). The G/wi Bushmen. In Bicchier, M. G. (ed.),Hunters and Gatherers Today. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, pp. 271–325.
Silberbauer, G. B. (1981).Hunter and Habitat in the Central Kalahari Desert. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Tanaka, J. (1976). Subsistence ecology of central Kalahari San. In Lee, R. B., and DeVore, I. (eds.),Kalahari Hunter-Gatherers: Studies of the !Kung San and Their Neighbors. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, pp. 98–119.
Tanaka, J. (1980).The San Hunter-Gatherers of the Kalahari: A Study in Ecological Anthropology (translated by D. Hughes). University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo.
Trivers, R. L. (1971). The Evolution of reciprocal altruism.Quarterly Review of Biology 46: 35–57.
Wiessner, P. (1977).Hxaro: A Regional System of Reciprocity for Reducing Risk among the !Kung San. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Michigan.
Wiessner, P. (1980). History and continuity in !Kung San reciprocal relationships. Paper presented at the Second International Conference on Hunting and Gathering Societies, Quebec.
Yellen, J., and Harpending, H. (1972). Hunter-gatherer populations and archaeological inference.World Archaeology 4: 244–253.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cashdan, E. G//ana territorial organization. Hum Ecol 12, 443–463 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531128
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531128