Santiago Genovés: a Pioneer in the Study of Behavior in Mexican Physical Anthropology

Abstract

Mexican physical anthropology has shown throughout its history a common feature with Mexican anthropology in general: a focus on the local. Since its beginnings, the bodily variability of various extinct and present populations has marked a distinctive feature of anthropo-physical practice. However, the emergence of new research topics has been influenced by global transformations in the discipline and by the role of specific researchers who have managed to leave their mark on the changes in anthropology in our country. Santiago Genovés, a Spanish-Mexican anthropologist, began his career as a researcher addressing typical topics of national physical anthropology. However, due to his doctoral training in England and the rise of studies on behavior, aggression, and violence, his research and interests evolved, eventually making him one of the main pioneers in the study of behavior in Mexico.