Mervyn Meggitt
Encyclopedia
Mervyn Meggitt was an Australian anthropologist
who was one of the pioneering researchers of higlands Papua New Guinea
and Aboriginal Australia
.
Born in Warwick, Queensland
and educated at the Church of England Grammar School
in Brisbane
, Meggitt served in the Royal Australian Navy
during the Second World War. Following demobilisation, he became one of the first students of anthropology at the University of Sydney
, and between 1953 and 1979 he carried out research amongst the Warlpiri
(Walbiri) of Australia and the people of Enga Province
, Papua New Guinea
. In the 1960s he took a position as a professor of anthropology at the City University of New York
. His works include The Lineage System of the Mae Enga and Desert People: A Study of the Walbiri Aborigines of Australia. But perhaps his most noted work is "Blood is Their Argument," an intensive analysis of the warfare habits of the Enga tribes. The book is widely considered to be among the first ethnographic studies of warfare.
In his work on the people of Enga
in Papua New Guinea
Meggitt found a firmly patrilineal system. This was unusual compared to other highland groups, which tended to be organized on a basis of both residence and descent. Restudies of his material as well the Enga suggest that Meggitt overstated the case and the Enga may be more like other highlands groups than was thought in previous decades.
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
who was one of the pioneering researchers of higlands Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
and Aboriginal Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Born in Warwick, Queensland
Warwick, Queensland
Warwick is a town in Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Local Government Area. In 2006 the town of Warwick had a population of 12,562....
and educated at the Church of England Grammar School
Anglican Church Grammar School
The Anglican Church Grammar School , is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school for boys, located in East Brisbane, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.Founded in 1912 by Canon William Perry French Morris, Churchie has a non-selective...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Meggitt served in the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
during the Second World War. Following demobilisation, he became one of the first students of anthropology at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, and between 1953 and 1979 he carried out research amongst the Warlpiri
Warlpiri
The Warlpiri are a group of Indigenous Australians, many of whom speak the Warlpiri language. There are 5,000–6,000 Warlpiri, living mostly in a few towns and settlements scattered through their traditional land in Australia's Northern Territory, north and west of Alice Springs...
(Walbiri) of Australia and the people of Enga Province
Enga
Enga may refer to:*Enga Province, Papua New Guinea*Enga language, language spoken by Enga people*Enga people, ethnic group located in the highlands of Papua New Guinea*Vålerenga I.F. Fotball*EngA bacterial GTPase...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. In the 1960s he took a position as a professor of anthropology at the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
. His works include The Lineage System of the Mae Enga and Desert People: A Study of the Walbiri Aborigines of Australia. But perhaps his most noted work is "Blood is Their Argument," an intensive analysis of the warfare habits of the Enga tribes. The book is widely considered to be among the first ethnographic studies of warfare.
In his work on the people of Enga
Enga
Enga may refer to:*Enga Province, Papua New Guinea*Enga language, language spoken by Enga people*Enga people, ethnic group located in the highlands of Papua New Guinea*Vålerenga I.F. Fotball*EngA bacterial GTPase...
in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
Meggitt found a firmly patrilineal system. This was unusual compared to other highland groups, which tended to be organized on a basis of both residence and descent. Restudies of his material as well the Enga suggest that Meggitt overstated the case and the Enga may be more like other highlands groups than was thought in previous decades.