Concept of Property
Property and wealth are found in every society, but their meaning is different everywhere. Similarly, in tribal society also they have peculiar meaning. Modern man is engaged in earning wealth. This was not the case with his primitive ancestor, or the primitive counter part. Property played its part in man’s origin. But gradually social life evolved and different type of goods is used.
Thus the meaning of property changed gradually. In a single country itself the meaning of property differed from place to place. In the words of Philbrick, “The concept of property never has been, is not and never can be a definite content.” Modern man uses the word property in the sense of capital, interest, rent and wages, etc.
These were not the meaning in ancient times. The study of property in different tribes reveals different meanings. Hence, property has not a single meaning for the anthropologist. It is generally collective and rarely individual.
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Both the types of movable and immovable properties are available in primitive societies. In Newzealand andMalanesia, besides collective and personal properties, one finds multiple possessive rights. In this condition several owners use the property in different ways.
Concept of Wealth
Wealth in primitive societies does not mean gold, silver or currency notes. They are ignorant of means of exchange. Their needs are fulfilled by barter. Wealth is a public property which can be easily divided. The north pacific tribes conduct exchange known as gift exchange. Societies in which saving is not much do not have much wealth.
Wealth first of all accumulated in food gathering tribes such as Kadar in India. In simple peasant societies the means of exchange of surplus goods gradually developed. As specialization increased wealth also increased. Many of the valuable products of sea such as couries and beads, etc., were used as wealth. Thus the meaning of property and wealth in primitive societies has been much different from that in civilized societies.