Human Relations Area Files

Exclusive look at the new eHRAF World Cultures database

After several years of development and months of beta testing, the new look for our eHRAF World Cultures database is scheduled to launch in Fall 2021. The official public rollout will begin in the Fall,…

Knowledge is power: anthropology of proverbs

Francine Barone Proverbs are a simple way of expressing a well-known truth or adage based on common sense or experience. They are usually considered to be imbued with ancestral wisdom, passed down from generation to…

eHRAF Archaeology Jeoparody Game

In homage to the late Alex Trebek (1940-2020), host of the television game show Jeopardy! for 37 years, we are pleased to share a new interactive HRAF game: eHRAF Archaeology Jeoparody. A play on the…

Support HRAF through a tax-deductible donation

For over 70 years, the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) has been fulfilling our mission to promote understanding of cultural diversity and commonality in the past and present. To accomplish this mission, HRAF produces scholarly…

Craving comfort: bonding with food across cultures

Food is a universal human experience. People everywhere must eat to survive, yet what foods are eaten and how they are enjoyed can vary widely across cultures and time. “Comfort foods” made a comeback in…