ANTHROPOLOGY - THE MAPPING OF CULTURAL TRAITS FROM FIELD DATA

Geographical information illuminates many features of culture that can not be seen otherwise. Higher-resolution mapping of cultural traits, n ow possible with computerized techniques, can open a new window on hum an cultural adaptation. It can look at where people live on a scale th at is small enough to reveal the features of the environment to which their cultures respond. This article discusses the mapping of language in a rural area of Mexico. Much GIS technology has become so elaborat e that it is not appropriate to cultural anthropology. The project des cribed was successful because it developed and used techniques that we re appropriate to the problem being studied and the situation in the f ield. The techniques can be used for other types of mapping projects.