Is anthropology the study of primitive peoples?
A common question, and answering it exposes the history of the field and its critique of itself.
Published work
What does an anthropologist do in the field?
No questionnaires, no statistical samples. So what does a researcher actually do when they “go into the field”?
The Rawshan of the Hijaz: an architecture of light and privacy
A field study of the Hijazi rawshan and its relationship to social structure and climatic adaptation in historic Jeddah.
Saudi coffee: an anthropology of hospitality and social symbolism
An anthropological reading of what coffee means, and of the rituals of serving it in Saudi society across generations.
The AlUla inscriptions and the Lihyanites: documenting ancient belief and symbol
An anthropological analysis of rock texts and doctrinal symbols in the north-west of the Kingdom.
What is anthropology? A first question
A short answer for anyone approaching the field for the first time: what does an anthropologist study, and how?
How do we document an oral account? A short practical guide
Before you start the recorder: what to ask, how to listen, and what to write down after you switch it off.
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