Animals in bushman medicine

Dr Low has a background in historical and anthropological research of southern African Khoekhoe and San, or Bushman, medicine. In his next research topic Dr Low explores the relationship between animals, medicine and San, over time. The project aims to identify how animals may have informed San medical ideas and practices in past and recent contexts and to examine how such ideas and practices have changed in relation to changing familiarity with animals.
The project starts with an examination of pre-colonial San relationships with animals for which Dr Low will draw on evidence principally from rock art, archaeology and historical linguistics. For the colonial and post-colonial periods Dr Low will particularly broaden his evidence with archival and fieldwork research. The research focuses on important issues of change amongst *Khomani, Hai//om, Nharo and Ju/hoansi Bushmen. Central themes of change to be explored include farming and fencing, hunting, land dispossession and instigation of National Parks. The project will not only contribute to a history of San medicine but will scrutinise a history of dispossession and disputed evidence for the profound affinities often claimed between San and their environment.