Ifugao Law (In American Archaeology and Ethnology, Vol. 15, No. 1)

This work opens with a striking claim that custom can be a more powerful regulator of behavior than formal statutes, and it uses the Ifugao people of the Philippine mountains as a vivid case study. The author, drawing on eight years of firsthand experience, describes a society that functions without centralized authority yet maintains a notable degree of peace through shared taboos and communal expectations. By juxtaposing the Ifugao’s informal legal mechanisms with the more bureaucratic rules of the United States, the text invites listeners to reconsider how “law” is defined and enforced.

The introduction situates the Ifugos amid a broader tapestry of highland tribes, offering historical context about successive migrations and the limited impact of colonial missions. It outlines the scope of the community—about 120,000 individuals living in remote, rugged terrain—and hints at the rich cultural practices that sustain their cohesion. Throughout, the narrative balances scholarly observation with a personable tone, making the ethnographic material accessible and thought‑provoking for modern ears.