Essentials of Physical Anthropology Sixth Edition

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter Outline  What is Anthropology?  Cultural Anthropology  Archaeology  Linguistic Anthropology

Chapter Outline  Physical Anthropology  Physical Anthropology and the Scientific Method  The Anthropological Perspective

Hominids  Humans are hominids, belonging to the taxonomic family Hominidae.  Bipedalism, walking on two legs, is a critical feature of the hominids.  Humans are members of the Order Primates, the group of mammals that includes prosimians, monkeys and apes.

Issues for Physical Anthropologists  Evolution  A change in the genetic structure of a population.  Adaptation  Functional response of organisms or populations to the environment.  Adaptation results from evolutionary change.

Evolution  Microevolution  Small genetic changes that occur within a species.  Macroevolution  Changes that occur only after many generations, such as the appearance of a new species (speciation).

Culture  technologies  subsistence patterns  housing types  clothing  religion  marriage and family  values  gender roles  Strategies humans use to adapt to their environment:

Culture  Culture is learned, and the process of learning one’s culture begins at birth.  Even though culture isn’t genetically determined, the human predisposition to assimilate culture is influenced by genetics.  Over time, culture and biology interacted in such a way that humans are said to be the result of biocultural evolution.

What Is Anthropology?  The study of humankind.  Integrates sociology, economics, history, psychology, and biology.  Comprises three subfields:  cultural anthropology  archaeology  physical (or biological) anthropology

Cultural Anthropology  Studies all aspects of human behavior.  Subfields:  Urban anthropology deals with issues of inner cities.  Medical anthropology explores relationship between culture and health.

Archaeology  Study and interpretation of material remains recovered from earlier cultures.  Information about culture comes from artifacts and material culture left by early hominids.

Linguistic Anthropology  Study of the origin of language and speech.  The use of language is a unique human characteristic.  Relationship between culture and language:  How do members of a society perceive phenomena?  How does the use of language shape perceptions?

Physical Anthropology  Study of human biology in the framework of evolution.  Subfields:  Paleoanthropology - human evolution  Anthropometry - measurement of body parts  Primatology: study of nonhuman primates  Osteology: study of skeletons

Physical Anthropology and the Scientific Method  State the research problem.  Develop a hypothesis.  Test the hypothesis through data collection and analysis.  If the hypothesis is verified, it becomes a theory.

Anthropological Perspective  A broad perspective that helps us understand the diversity of the human experience within the context of biological and behavioral continuity with other species.  By learning about cultures other than our own, we can avoid an ethnocentric view of other cultures.  By recognizing that we have similarities with other animals, we may recognize that they have a place in nature just as we do.

Quick Quiz

1. The mammalian group that humans belong to is the Order a) Carnivora. b) Rodentia. c) Primates. d) Chiroptera.

Answer: c  The mammalian group that humans belong to is the Order Primates.

2. Culture is a) inherited by a simple genetic transmission. b) a biological trait of our species. c) learned. d) the strategy by which many mammals adapt to their environment.

Answer: c  Culture is learned.

3. Anthropologists who conduct excavations in order to recover artifacts are a) archaeologists b) ethnologists c) linguists d) medical anthropologists

Answer: a  Anthropologists who conduct excavations in order to recover artifacts are archaeologists.

4. Physical anthropologists developed techniques for measuring the human body. These type of measurements are called: a) calibration b) dermatoglyphics c) genetics d) anthropometrics

Answer: d  Physical anthropologists developed techniques for measuring the human body. These type of measurements are called anthropometrics.