DAME MARY DOUGLAS, I am sorry to report, has died earlier this week. Jack Sasson relays the sad news on the Agade list in an e-mail forwarded from Mark Geller, which I take the liberty of copying here:

Dame Mary Douglas (1921-2007) passed away yesterday evening (16 May), after receiving her knighthood at Buckingham Palace last week. Her contributions to anthropology and biblical studies will be of lasting importance. On the day she passed away, she received proofs of her introduction to a new volume, Imagining Creation, which will appear within the next few months.

Jack also points to this notice about Professor Douglas regarding an honorary degree she received in 2000 at the University of Pennsylvania.

Requiescat in pace.