Theodor Koch-Grunberg
Encyclopedia
Theodor Koch-Grünberg was a German ethnologist and explorer who made a valuable contribution to the study of the Indigenous peoples in South America
, in particular the Pemon Indians of Venezuela
and the indigenous peoples of Brazil in the Amazon
region.
After studying humanities at the University of Tübingen, he obtained a doctorate in philosophy at Würzburg
with a thesis on the Guaicuru
.
In 1896 he travelled to Brazil for the first time as a member of an expedition led by Hermann Meyer in search of the source of the Xingu River
, a tributary of the Amazon River
.
Then from 1903–1905 he explored the Yapura River and the Rio Negro to the border with Venezuela
. In 1906, he published photogravures of people he encountered on the expedition in his monumental "Indianertypen aus dem Amazonasgebiet nach eigenen Aufnahmen während seiner Reise in Brasilien" (1906). A written account of his trip, including his study of the Baniwa, was published in two volumes in 1910-11 under the title: "Zwei Jahre Unter Den Indianern. Reisen in Nord West Brasilien, 1903-1905" ("Two Years Among the Indians. Travels in North-West Brazil")
He illustrated his account with photographs and his descriptions of Brazilian tribes are still used by anthropologists and ethnologists today.
His second major expedition started in 1911 and took him from Manaus
, up the Rio Branco
to Mount Roraima
in Venezuela
, where he documented the myths and legends of the Pemon Indians and took numerous photographs. Koch-Grünberg used the local names Arekuna and Taulipang to describe the indigenous groups he studied but these are local names for the Pemon.
He then explored the Sierra Parima, the Caura River and the Ventuari River, before reaching the Orinoco River on 1 January 1913.
After spending a short time in San Fernando de Atabapo, then the capital of Amazonas Federal Territory, he continued his journey along the Casiquiare canal, which links the Orinoco River system with the Amazon, via the Rio Negro.
He then returned to Manaus, before returning to Germany to produce his most important work: "Vom Roraima Zum Orinoco" ("From Roraima to the Orinoco"), which was published in 1917.
He was the director of Berlin
's Ethnographic Museum, where many of the items he collected on his travels are stored.
Koch-Grünberg died suddenly and tragically in Brazil in 1924 after contracting malaria on an expedition with the American explorer, geographer, and physician Alexander H. Rice, Jr.
and the Portuguese-Brazilian cinematographer Silvino Santos to map the upper reaches of the Rio Branco. The film of the expedition was called "The Trail of El Dorado" and was highly successful.
Indigenous peoples in South America
American indigenous peoples in South America include:*Indigenous peoples in Argentina*Indigenous peoples in Bolivia*Indigenous peoples in Brazil*Indigenous peoples in Chile*Indigenous peoples in Colombia*Indigenous peoples in Ecuador...
, in particular the Pemon Indians of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and the indigenous peoples of Brazil in the Amazon
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
region.
After studying humanities at the University of Tübingen, he obtained a doctorate in philosophy at Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
with a thesis on the Guaicuru
Guaicuruan languages
Guaicuruan is a language family spoken in northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and Brazil .-Family division:...
.
In 1896 he travelled to Brazil for the first time as a member of an expedition led by Hermann Meyer in search of the source of the Xingu River
Xingu River
The Xingu River , also called Rio Xingu, is a 1,230-mile long, river in north Brazil; it is a southeast tributary of the Amazon River.-Description and history:...
, a tributary of the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
.
Then from 1903–1905 he explored the Yapura River and the Rio Negro to the border with Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. In 1906, he published photogravures of people he encountered on the expedition in his monumental "Indianertypen aus dem Amazonasgebiet nach eigenen Aufnahmen während seiner Reise in Brasilien" (1906). A written account of his trip, including his study of the Baniwa, was published in two volumes in 1910-11 under the title: "Zwei Jahre Unter Den Indianern. Reisen in Nord West Brasilien, 1903-1905" ("Two Years Among the Indians. Travels in North-West Brazil")
He illustrated his account with photographs and his descriptions of Brazilian tribes are still used by anthropologists and ethnologists today.
His second major expedition started in 1911 and took him from Manaus
Manaus
Manaus is a city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas. It is situated at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. It is the most populous city of Amazonas, according to the statistics of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and is a popular ecotourist destination....
, up the Rio Branco
Branco River
The Rio Branco is the principal affluent of the Rio Negro from the north; it is enriched by many streams from the sierras which separate Venezuela and Guyana from Brazil. Its two upper main tributaries are the Urariquira and the Takutu...
to Mount Roraima
Monte Roraima
Mount Roraima is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepui plateau in South America. First described by the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh in 1596, its summit area is defended by 400-metre-tall cliffs on all sides...
in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, where he documented the myths and legends of the Pemon Indians and took numerous photographs. Koch-Grünberg used the local names Arekuna and Taulipang to describe the indigenous groups he studied but these are local names for the Pemon.
He then explored the Sierra Parima, the Caura River and the Ventuari River, before reaching the Orinoco River on 1 January 1913.
After spending a short time in San Fernando de Atabapo, then the capital of Amazonas Federal Territory, he continued his journey along the Casiquiare canal, which links the Orinoco River system with the Amazon, via the Rio Negro.
He then returned to Manaus, before returning to Germany to produce his most important work: "Vom Roraima Zum Orinoco" ("From Roraima to the Orinoco"), which was published in 1917.
He was the director of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
's Ethnographic Museum, where many of the items he collected on his travels are stored.
Koch-Grünberg died suddenly and tragically in Brazil in 1924 after contracting malaria on an expedition with the American explorer, geographer, and physician Alexander H. Rice, Jr.
Alexander H. Rice, Jr.
Alexander Hamilton Rice, Jr. was an American physician, geographer, geologist and explorer. He graduated from Harvard University in 1898 with an A.B. degree, and earned his medical degree in 1904 also at Harvard...
and the Portuguese-Brazilian cinematographer Silvino Santos to map the upper reaches of the Rio Branco. The film of the expedition was called "The Trail of El Dorado" and was highly successful.
Further reading
- Theodor Koch-Grünberg 1906 - "Indianertypen aus dem Amazonasgebiet nach eigenen Aufnahmen während seiner Reise in Brasilien" ("Indian Types of the Amazon Basin", Ernst Wasmuth, Berlin) An impressive collection of 141 photogravures of the people he visited on his 1903-1905 visit to Rio Negro.
- Theodor Koch-Grünberg 1909 - "Zwei Jahre unter den Indianern: Reisen in Nordwest-Brasilien 1903-1905" ("Two years among the Indians. Travels in North-West Brazil")
- Theodor Koch-Grünberg 1917 - "Vom Roraima zum Orinoco" ("From Roraima to the Orinoco"). Dietrich Reimer. (reissued by Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, 2009; ISBN 9781108006309)