A gift from the groom and his kinsmen to the wife and her kinsmen prior to the marriage. Legitimizes children born to the woman as members of the husband's descent group. Form of sociopolitical organization based on food production, usually agriculture or intensive horticulture, in which kinship remains important and generosity is associated with political office. Often a transitional form between tribal society and state. A collection of from 3 to 60 lineages.
Clans usually hold property and have ceremonial and social control functions.
Belief that whatever is done to a material object will affect the person who was once in contact with that object. Also called sympathetic magic. Behavior patterns acquired by humans as members of society. Technology, means of subsistence, language, patterns of group organization, and ideology are aspects of culture. Social unit found among horticultural, pastoral, and agricultural populations.