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Protein Capture and Cultural Development in the Amazon Basin1

Bibliographic Data

ID2453151
AuthorsD Gro (0000-0002-1328-1134, Hunter College, corresponding author), Daniel R Gro, DANIEL R GROSS
Year1975
Volume77
Issue3
Pages526-549
Publication date1975-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Anthropologist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-7294 • E-ISSN: 1548-1433
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1525/aa.1975.77.3.02a00040
OpenAlexW2112780925
LanguageEN
Citations received148
References cited48

This paper examines the proposition that availability of animal protein limits the size, density, and permanence of settlements of the aboriginal societies of the Amazon Basin. Previous discussions have focused mainly on agricultural potential. Evidence is presented from ethnography and ecology suggesting that fish and game are scarce, particularly away from major rivers. Nine relatively unacculturated societies have relatively low but probably adequate per capita intake of animal protein. The effects which this limitation may have on Amazonian culture are discussed

Agriculture · Amazon basin · Amazon rainforest · Amazonian · Archaeology · Biology · Ethnography · Ethnology · Fish · Fish <Actinopterygii> · Fishery · Geography · Human settlement · Per capita · Proposition · Sociology · Structural basin · Amazonian Archaeology and Ethnohistory · Demography · Ecology · Fish biology, ecology, and behavior · Indigenous Health and Education

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Unique citing works148
Citations per year2,9
Citation span1975 - 2025 (51)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedYes
Citation typesNeutral: 144
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