Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. Window on Humanity 6 th Edition Chapter Conrad Phillip Kottak Doing Anthropology 3

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 3-2 Overview Research Methods in Archaeology and Biological AnthropologyResearch Methods in Archaeology and Biological Anthropology Kinds of Archaeology Dating the Past Kinds of Biological Anthropology Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology Continued

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 3-3 Overview Continued Ethnography: Anthropology’s Distinctive Strategy Ethnographic Techniques Survey Research Doing Anthropology Right and Wrong: Ethical Issues Anthropology Today

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 3-4 Research Methods in Archaeology and Biological Anthropology Multidisciplinary Approaches –Paleontology: study of ancient life through fossil record Palynology: study of ancient plants through pollen samples Bioarchaeology: study of human skeletons to reconstruct physical traits, health status, diet Remote sensing: using such things as aerial photos, satellite imagery to find ancient structures

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 3-5 Research Methods in Archaeology and Physical Anthropology Multidisciplinary Approaches –Paleoanthropology: study of human evolution through fossil record –Fossils: remains, traces, or impressions of ancient life forms –Typically requires a team of scientists, students, and local workers

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 3-6 Research Methods in Archaeology and Physical Anthropology Survey and Excavation –Systematic survey: provides regional perspective by gathering information on settlement patterns over a large area Settlement patterns: distribution of sites within a region –Excavation: recover remains by digging through layers of deposits that make up a site Superposition principle: in undisturbed sequence of strata, the oldest layer is on the bottom

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 3-7 Archaeologists use variety of methods –Experimental archaeology: replication of ancient techniques and processes –Historical archaeology: use written records (when available) as guides and supplements to archaeological research Kinds of Archaeology

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 3-8 Kinds of Archaeology Archaeologists (continued) –Classical archaeology: study of literate civilizations of the Old World (e.g., Greece, Rome, Egypt) –Underwater archaeology: investigation of submerged sites (e.g., shipwrecks)

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. 3-9 Dating the Past Fossil record not representative sample of all plants and animals that ever lived –Taphonomy: study of processes that affect the remains of dead animals –Conditions under which fossils are found influence fossil record –“Absence of evidence does not necessarily prove evidence of absence” (Stringer)

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Dating the Past Relative dating: provides a time frame in relation to other strata or materials –Stratigraphy: examines accumulation of sediments in layers (strata)

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Dating the Past Absolute dating techniques: more precise dating of artifacts and fossils with dates in numbers –Radiometric techniques Carbon-14 ( 14 C) Potassium-argon (K/A) Uranium series ( 238 U) Thermoluminescence (TL) Electron spin resonance (ESR)

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Table 3.1 Absolute Dating Techniques

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Dating the Past Molecular anthropology: uses genetic analyses to date and to estimate evolutionary distance between species –Also reconstructs waves and patterns of migration and settlement –Haplogroup: biological lineage defined by specific cluster of genetic traits that occur together

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Bone (skeletal) biology –Study of bone as biological tissue, including genetics; cell structure; growth, development, decay; patterns of movement (biomechanics) –Paleopathology: study of disease and injury in skeletons from archaeological sites –Forensic anthropology: recovery, analysis, and identification of human remains in legal context Kinds of Biological Anthropology

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Anthropometry –Measurement of human body parts and dimensions including skeletal parts –Body mass and composition provide measures of nutritional status in living people Kinds of Physical Anthropology

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Primatology –Study of primates (apes, monkeys, lemurs) in zoos and natural settings –Studies of primate social systems and behavior suggest hypotheses about behavior that humans do or do not share with other primates and hominid ancestors Kinds of Physical Anthropology

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology Cultural anthropology and sociology share interest in social relations, organization, and behavior

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology Sociology traditionally focused on industrialized Western nations –Questionnaires, collection of masses of quantifiable data Anthropology traditionally focused on small, nonliterate populations –Participant observation: taking part in events one is observing, describing, and analyzing

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Ethnography: Anthropology’s Distinctive Strategy Ethnography: research strategy in societies with less social differentiation than found in large, modern nations –Ethnographers try to understand the whole of a particular culture –Free-ranging strategy

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Ethnographic Techniques 1.First-hand observation of behavior 2.Conversation with degrees of formality 3.Genealogical method 4.Detailed work with key consultants 5.In-depth interviewing 6.Discovery of local beliefs and perceptions 7.Problem-oriented research 8.Longitudinal research 9.Team research 10.Multi-sited

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Ethnographic Techniques Observation and Participant Observation –Awareness and recording of details from daily events Personal diary Field notes –Establish rapport with hosts –Participant observation: taking part in the activities being observed

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Ethnographic Techniques Conversation, Interviewing, and Interview Schedules –Naming phase –Sample: small, manageable study group from a larger population –Interview schedule: ethnographer talks face to face with people, asks questions, and writes down answers

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Ethnographic Techniques Genealogical Method: procedures to discover and record connections of kinship, descent, and marriage –Genealogy prominent building block in social organization of nonindustrial societies –Genealogical data helps understand current social relations and reconstruct history

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Ethnographic Techniques Key Cultural Consultants (key informants): people who can provide most complete or useful information about particular aspects of life –Life histories: Recollection of a lifetime of experiences to provide more intimate and personal cultural portrait

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Ethnographic Techniques Local Beliefs and Perceptions, and the Ethnographer’s –Emic (native-oriented) approach: investigates how local people think Provided by cultural consultants (informants): individuals who provide the emic perspective –Etic (science-oriented) approach: ethnographer emphasizes what he or she (the observer) notices and considers important

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Ethnographic Techniques Problem-Oriented Ethnography –Most ethnographers investigate specific problems and collect data relevant to that problem Longitudinal Studies, Team Research, and Multisited Ethnography –Longitudinal research: Long-term study of an area or population, usually based on repeated visits

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Ethnographic Techniques Longitudinal Studies, Team Research, and Multisited Ethnography –Gwembe District, Zambia –Arembepe, Brazil –Ethnography increasingly is multitimed and multisited Anthropologists increasingly study people in motion

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Survey research design: involves sampling, impersonal data collection, and statistical analysis –Sample: manageable study group from much larger population Survey Research

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Survey Research Survey research design (continued) –Respondents: those who respond to questions during a survey –Variables: attributes that vary among members of a sample or population In the best studies, hallmark of ethnography remains

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Doing Anthropology Right and Wrong: Ethical Issues Archaeologists and physical anthropologists often work as members of international teams –Need to negotiate the matter of where materials produced will be analyzed and stored –Informed consent: agreement to take part in research should be obtained from anyone who provides information or who might be affected by the research

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Doing Anthropology Right and Wrong: Ethical Issues North American anthropologists working in another country should: –Include host country colleagues in planning, funding requests, and dissemination of results –Collaborative relationships –Include host country colleagues in dissemination of research results –Ensure something is “given back”

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Doing Anthropology Right and Wrong: Ethical Issues The Code of Ethics –American Anthropological Association Anthropologists have obligations to their scholarly field, to the wider society and culture, and to the human species, other species, and the environment

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Doing Anthropology Right and Wrong: Ethical Issues Anthropologists should be –Open and honest about research projects with all parties affected by the research –Researchers should pay attention to proper relations between themselves as guests and the host nations and communities where they work

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Doing Anthropology Right and Wrong: Ethical Issues Anthropologists and Terrorism –“Paramount importance” that anthropologists study the roots of terrorism and violence Project Minerva Human Terrain System (HTS) –Impossible to identify selves as anthropologists –Responsibilities to military units may cause conflict –Difficult to get “informed consent” in war zones –Information gathered may lead to targeting –Identification with military may endanger the research

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education Anthropology Today Studying Health in the Bolivian Amazon –Tsimane Health and Life History Project More than 50 Bolivian and American researchers, doctors and students have participated in the health project Field team offers basic medical exams for anyone who shows up, provides free medicine for common ailments like stomach parasites, and does on-the- spot analysis of blood, urine and fecal samples