Anthropology in Grazalema: Pitt-Rivers, the sheep and the fire
đĽđ˛ Grazalema is known for its hills, its Spanish firs and its rainfall â and, more recently, for the fire. Following the fire in July 2026, which affected 200 hectares (out of a total of 53,000), it may become a regeneration laboratory for the Natural Park. Weâll be bringing you more news on this soon.
But Grazalema is not just one of the most beautiful places in CĂĄdiz. It has also been the best-known Spanish village in the anthropology departments of England and the United States ever since Julian Pitt-Rivers published *The People of the Sierra* in 1954.
đ In this video, Lino CamprubĂ analyses the response published in 1984 by the anthropologist GinĂŠs SerrĂĄn PagĂĄn, a sculptor from Ceuta living in China. His critique of Pitt-Rivers opens the door to fascinating topics: the deindustrialisation of Grazalema (âthe Andalusian sheep and the Catalan wolvesâ), Andalusian anarchism as opposed to Eric Hobsbawmâs âprimitive rebelsâ, the bull on a string and the Virgin of Carmen.
đ The disappearance of wool mills from the second half of the 19th century also meant fewer sheep in the mountains. Today, organisations such as SerranĂas Vivas argue that reviving regenerative extensive livestock farming could be a key tool for reducing plant matter and helping to prevent major fires.