Otto Schlaginhaufen (born February 17, 1879, in St. Gallen, Switzerland – died October 15, 1968, in Zurich, Switzerland) was a prominent Swiss ethnologist and physical anthropologist. He is best known for his extensive fieldwork in Melanesia, particularly in German New Guinea, and his contributions to the study of human physical variation and craniology.
Biography
Schlaginhaufen studied natural sciences, with a focus on zoology and anthropology, at the University of Zurich and the University of Berlin. He earned his doctorate from the University of Zurich in 1905. His early career saw him engaging with the burgeoning field of physical anthropology, which at the time often involved detailed measurements and classifications of human populations.
From 1907 to 1910, Schlaginhaufen embarked on a significant expedition to German New Guinea (present-day Papua New Guinea), conducting extensive ethnographic and anthropometric research. This expedition yielded a vast collection of data, artifacts, and photographs, which formed the basis for much of his subsequent academic work.
Upon his return, Schlaginhaufen pursued an academic career. He qualified as a privatdozent (lecturer) at the University of Zurich in 1911 and was appointed extraordinary professor of anthropology in 1918. In 1927, he became a full professor and director of the Anthropological Institute at the University of Zurich, a position he held until his retirement in 1949.
Research and Contributions
Schlaginhaufen's research primarily focused on two main areas:
- Melanesian Ethnography and Anthropology: His fieldwork in German New Guinea provided invaluable insights into the cultures, languages, and physical characteristics of the indigenous populations. He meticulously documented various aspects of their lives, including social structures, customs, and material culture. His work contributed significantly to the understanding of the diverse peoples of New Guinea.
- Physical Anthropology and Craniology: A central part of Schlaginhaufen's work involved the detailed measurement of human physical traits, particularly craniometry (the measurement of skulls). He collected extensive anthropometric data from New Guinean populations and elsewhere, using these measurements to study human variation, population classifications, and theories of "race," which were prevalent in early 20th-century anthropology. While such typological approaches are largely outdated and criticized today, his work represents a significant historical contribution to the development of physical anthropology.
He authored numerous scientific papers and books, with his expedition reports and analyses of human remains and living populations being particularly influential within the academic circles of his time.
Legacy
Otto Schlaginhaufen's work provides a comprehensive ethnographic and physical anthropological record of certain Melanesian populations from the early 20th century. His extensive collections and detailed publications continue to be valuable resources for historians of science and researchers studying the history of anthropology. While his methodologies and theoretical frameworks regarding "racial science" are viewed critically in modern anthropology, he remains a historically important figure in the discipline, particularly for his empirical contributions and pioneering fieldwork in New Guinea.
Selected Works
- Eine Forschungsreise nach Deutsch-Neuguinea (1910)
- Die Anthropologie der Melanesier (1914)
- Anthropologia Helvetica: Ergebnisse anthropologischer Untersuchungen an den Wehrpflichtigen der Schweiz (1896-1936) (1946)
See Also
- History of anthropology
- Physical anthropology
- Melanesia
- Craniometry