Biographical Relations in Amerindian and Melanesian Societies

Anthropology takes as its analytical lens the life cycle and with it the biographical relations and life projects that unfold within. This chapter discusses how artefacts in Melanesia and the Lowlands of Central and South America capture the concept of time and how shapes of time mirror shapes of relations. Marilyn Strathern had shown that forms for Melanesia – such as babies, yams and artefacts – are the outcomes and external shapes of relations. As part of their material life, Guna people living on the San Blas Archipelago and nearby coastal area of Panama carve wooden anthropomorphic figures that act as household guardians and auxiliary spirits of ritual specialists. Island Melanesia is a region with multiple island groups of varying landmass skirting mainland Papua New Guinea from the southwest to the northeast