mexic

A Note on Mathematics and Computers in Mexican Anthropology

Mario J.F. Cortina-Borja and Leopoldo Valinas-Coalla

(Instituto de Investigaciones Antropologicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Cd. Universitaria, Mexico 04510, D.F., Mexico).

BICA Issue No. 6: September 1987

Mathematics and computers are well established in Mexican anthropology. Computers have been used since the early 1960s in all branches of anthropological science at the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). These are the two main anthropological research institutes in the country. The University established a new computing centre in 1963, and innovative work began almost immediately. In 1964, with the opening of the National Museum of Anthropology, INAH set up a Department of Electronic Machines (a title which is still used) to process anthropological data. Between 1964 and 1975 the department published a series, Antropologia Matematica which had 25 issues covering numerical taxonomy, mathematical linguistics, reconstruction of vessel shapes from sherds, the construction of indexes, and so on.

The Institute for Historical Research (a department of UNAM) set up an Institute for Anthropological Research (IIA-UNAM) in 1963. It became an independent Institute of the University in 1976, and since then has had a staff of at least two mathematicians, acting as statisticians and programmers. This is now a formally recognised section for statistics and computing, with a statistician (M. Cortina) and two mathematicians: M. Cruz-Millan works on the library data-base, and M. Mireles develops software for micro computers. All three are engaged in research in their own account, and give courses in mathematics or computer science, as well as advising researchers in all departments.

Developments have also occurred within INAH: the National School of Anthropology and History (ENAH) uses Apple II-es and two MacIntosh, with a 20Mb hard disk to support scholarly research and museum databases: in particular they are working on the design of a database for the museum's catalogues. ENAH has recently been invited to enter the Apple University Consortium as a software development consultant. They also offer courses in statistics and computing. Elsewhere in Mexico, the anthropology department at the University of The Americas at Cholula, Puebla, has acquired several micro-computers.

In statistics, in addition to descriptive techniques, we conduct research and provide support in the analysis of anthropometrical data, surveys done by social anthropologists, archaeological settlement patterns, and phonological analysis, as well as helping with sampling design for anthropologists and archaeologists. In addition to the standard statistical routines such as SPSS and IMSL, IIA has a strong collaborative association with the University's Institute for Research in Applied Mathematics and Systems (IIMAS) and uses some of the FORTRAN or ALGOL routines developed there. Examples of this work include programs for cluster analysis, routines for nearest-neighbour models and non-hierarchical classification (e.g. optimum partitions and K-means), and packages for fitting non-linear regression equations, for multidimensional scaling (classical and ordinal), and for analysis and simulation of linear regression problems.

Original research in IIA has been mainly on problems of sampling archaeological material, creation of settlement models, topographic mapping, non-linear regression models for human growth and mathematical taxonomy in linguistics. This work has been developed either for the University's central computer or for the IIA microcomputers.

IIA has two remote terminals and one printer attached to the University's Academic Computing Centre Burroughs B-7800, which is the principal mainframe for academic research. We use it for handling large databases, and for sophisticated statistical work. In 1976 IIMAS designed the information system which we use to store some 320,000 library records on the Burroughs, and this provides bibliographic search facilities to users of different kinds. Some staff members work on the continuous enhancement of this system.

At the IIA computer laboratory we have seven IBM PC-compatible micros (two with 640K and 10Mb hard disks, four IBM/XT with 256K and with two double-density drives, and a Printaform-Columbia with 256K); 14 Apple-compatible sets (with two drives and 64K) and a CP/M system Intertek (with 64K and two drives). Peripherals include two digitaliser sets, two graphics tablets and a digital caliper. IIA has 11 printers, an IBM Typewriter which can be driven by the micros, and access to the Physics departement's laser printer.

The University's Computing Centre also has a large number of networked micros (Hewlett-Packard, Commodore, Cromenco, IBM, Apple MacIntosh, etc.).

We hope that this short note gives an idea of the anthropological use of computers in Mexico. We have a lot of publications on topics in the field, and will be happy to send further information.

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