Introduction

continued . . .

First, the accusations Tierney made against Neel and Chagnon in his book Darkness in El Dorado (2000) generated a media storm that spread around the world. People knew about the accusations in New York, New Zealand, and New Guinea. Tierney accused Neel and Chagnon of unethical behavior among the Yanomami that at times bordered on the criminal. Many perceived the problem as being larger than the mistakes of two famous scientists. They wondered if anthropology and perhaps science itself had gone astray in allowing such behavior to take place.

Second, and critical for the themes of this book, the way the controversy played out offers an important lens through which to examine the entire discipline of anthropology. We see not only how anthropologists idealize themselves in describing their work to others. We also see the actual practice of anthropology—up close and clear. We are led to explore questions central to the discipline.

Readers should keep this point in mind. The controversy goes beyond what Neel and Chagnon stand accused of. It extends beyond the media storm generated by Tierney's accusations and the accusations that others, in turn, made against him. The controversy draws us into examining issues at the heart of modern anthropology. As we will see, there are lessons for the learning here for everyone, whatever their specialty, whatever their status within the discipline.