Human Relations Area Files

New and Forthcoming Cultures and Traditions in eHRAF World Cultures & Archaeology (2024-2025)

Culture collections in the eHRAF databases are updated up to several times a year. Below is a brief summary of what cultures and traditions we have added or updated in eHRAF World Cultures and eHRAF…

Announcing HRAF Global Scholars for 2025

HRAF is pleased to announce the recipients of the HRAF Global Scholars Program for 2025. This program provides scholars around the world with one year of complimentary access to our research databases, eHRAF World Cultures and eHRAF…

Home Truths: An Anthropology of House and Home

Settlements are central to human development, making shelter, dwellings, and residence patterns necessary foci of investigation in both anthropology and archaeology. This article seeks to address a related and easily overlooked aspect of this anthropological…

Winter Solstice Celebrations Around the World

The Winter Solstice is upon us in the Northern Hemisphere. Marking the longest night and shortest day of the year, the hibernal solstice is an astronomical event that takes place when the Earth reaches its…

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…