The Ilahita Arapesh

The Ilahita Arapesh: Dimensions of Unity delves into the social and religious structures of Ilahita, a uniquely large and complex village in New Guinea's Torricelli Mountains. With nearly 1,500 residents, Ilahita challenges the norms of village size and organization in a region traditionally marked by smaller, segmented settlements. This anthropological study explores the historical, cultural, and adaptive processes that enabled Ilahita to grow and maintain unity without centralized authority. Through extensive fieldwork, the book examines how demographic pressures, historical disruptions, and adaptive mechanisms like dual organizational structures shaped the community's resilience and cohesion. This research not only provides an in-depth look at Ilahita’s integrative systems but also positions the village as a case study of broader anthropological significance. By addressing questions of adaptation, ritual complexity, and societal dynamics, the book connects Ilahita’s experience to theoretical frameworks on dualism, methodological individualism, and structural change. Drawing from ethnographic comparisons and firsthand data, it offers insights into how communities navigate both internal tensions and external challenges, making it a valuable contribution to studies on social complexity and cultural adaptation. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1976.