Final answer:
Franz Boas, though a seminal figure in anthropology who established key methodological practices, is not credited with proposing salvage anthropology. His contributions to the field, however, laid the groundwork for a more rigorous and ethical approach to anthropological research, moving away from ethnocentric and racist theories.
Step-by-step explanation:
While Franz Boas did establish rigorous standards for field research, the specific term "salvage anthropology" was not coined by him; it refers to the practice of collecting cultural artifacts and recording the practices of indigenous peoples under the assumption that these cultures might soon disappear. Boas played a pivotal role as one of the main figures in the field of anthropology who advocated for direct research with indigenous peoples. His background in physics and his ethnographic work, particularly with Native American cultures, led him to reject ethnocentric and race-based theories of cultural development that were prevalent during his time.
Franz Boas significantly influenced the shape of contemporary anthropological practices through his insistence on collecting ethnographical information firsthand. His findings, such as those from his study of immigrant skull sizes, challenged racial theories and contributed to understanding how environment affects biological traits, thereby altering the discourse on race and culture. Boas was also a vocal critic of racism and consistently advocated for the appreciation of cultural diversity and the unique historical trajectories of different societies.
The concept of salvage anthropology is typically associated with the urgency to document cultures believed to be disappearing. However, Boas’ holistic and rigorous methods in conducting fieldwork laid an important foundation that informed future anthropological work, including approaches that came to be known as salvage anthropology.