Final answer:
Anthropologists conducting early ethnography typically engaged in fieldwork in remote locations, immersing themselves in local cultures to gather in-depth knowledge and understanding of societal norms and behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
In early ethnography, anthropologists often went to fieldwork in remote locations to immerse themselves within the natural setting of a social community. This process involved observing and living the life of the community they studied, enabling a deeper understanding of the individuals' social standings, cultures, and their self-perception within social groups. Renowned anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski, for instance, conducted such fieldwork among the Trobriand Islanders to study their society and culture in-depth. His ethnography provided invaluable insight into their complex ceremonial exchange system known as the kula ring, among other cultural practices.
Traditional fieldwork involved travel to distant regions to study cultures in their native environmental contexts. However, the concept of 'the field' has evolved to include a variety of settings such as urban environments, virtual spaces, and even museum archives. This expansion has allowed anthropologists to explore cultural phenomena in diverse contexts beyond quaint villages and rural locations.
While the practice of excavation is integral to anthropology for uncovering artifacts and fossils, fieldwork is the method where cultural anthropologists live among the societies they study for extended periods, closely adopting local customs and lifestyle. This method sets the foundation for writing an ethnography, a comprehensive study of the observed culture.