Today: Park Ch.

What is Anthropology all about?

Anthropology

is the holistic, scientific study

of humankind
concerned with studying all aspects of humankind
Since

human biology and culture are intertwined, anthropology embraces a HOLISTIC perspective
Biology affects culture (perception of color, mate choice, resistance to disease) Culture affects biology (height of children of immigrants at beginning of 20th century, obesity)

Four Subfields of Anthropology

Archaeology Biological Anthropology Cultural anthropology Linguistic anthropology

1) 2)

3)
4)

1) Archaeology
Archaeology

is the study of past

cultures In U.S., considered part of Anthropology

In Europe and South America, considered part of history
Archaeologists

are interested in the material remains of human groups

Remains used to explain behavior

Archaeology cont.

Material remains (artifacts) can include:

Tools Pottery Features
(hearths,

enclosures, etc.)

Usually (but not always) deals with Prehistoric groups Ultimate goal of archaeologists is to reconstruct lifeways of those they are studying

Artifacts are the windows into the past lifeways

2) Biological Anthropology
called Physical Anthropology Study humans as a biological species Examples include:
Also

Human evolution (Paleoanthropology) Skeletal Biology Modern human variation Primatology

Human Evolution
Paleoanthropology Study

humans and human ancestors

by
Analyzing fossils Comparison with living (extant) and extinct primates Analyzing the ancient environment (paleoecology)

Modern Human Biological Variation

Homo sapiens is a single species, yet we differ from one another

Skin color, body proportions, body shape Skeletally & Dentally Genetically Blood types Fingerprints (dermatoglyphics)

Physical anthropologists quantify and explain these differences

Skeletal Biology

Modern and ancient skeletons

Sex Race Age Stature Pathology Trauma Diet

Structure and composition of bones

Histology Bone Chemistry DNA

Aids from knowledge of human variation, but also adds to knowledge of human variation

Primatology
Humans

are primates Study of non-human primates provides clues to extinct primates and to early human evolution
Example: Behavioral correlates of primate variation
Can

also shed light on modern human behavior

Example: Innate need for social interaction and affection, aggression, etc.

3) Cultural Anthropology
The

study of culture, and how humans interact within their culture(s)

Culture as characteristic trait of our species

Cultural

anthropologists study the socially-learned standards which guide behavior

How are they made? How do they vary? How and why do they change?

Cultural Anthropology

Topics in Cultural Anthropology include:

Religion Kinship Culture Change Health and Illness Family & Kinship Evolution and standards of behavior

Cultural Relativity
Crucial

to anthropology Park definition Behaviors of others fit into their cultural systems and are acceptable relative to their cultural beliefs, even if the behavior repulses us or we personally disagree with it Must look at a culture objectively

4) Linguistic Anthropology

The study of language

Most linguistic anthropologists are interested in modern human language

Subfield of anthropology, but could be considered a subfield of Cultural Anthropology

Language as a human characteristic

Describes characteristics of language, and studies relationship between languages and the cultures that speak them

Linguistic Anthropology
Language allows humans to preserve and transmit information and culture from generation to generation Contributes to study of human past by working out genealogical relationships among languages and examining their distributions Complements work of physical anthropologists studying biological population relationships Language has a huge influence on culture and behavior, and vice versa

5) Applied Anthropology
About half of all professional anthropologists are applied, or practicing, anthropologists. Applied anthropologists may be trained in one or more of the subfields of anthropology.

Specialization
Some anthropologists identify with a variety of specializations: Economic Anthropologists Political Anthropologists Psychological Anthropologists Cultural Ecologists Medical Anthropologists

The Hutterites

Physical Anthropology
Dermatoglyphics (Park) Genetics (DNA) Anthropometrics (measuring aspects of human body)

Cultural Anthropology
Interview and observe individuals
Reconstruct

genealogies

Determine aspects of culture

Examples:

religious practices, marriage patterns, kinship relationships, child rearing practices

The Hutterites
Archaeology

Could go to abandoned Bruderhof and excavate Analyze material culture left behind
Linguistic

Anthropology

Analyze syntax, structure, pattern of language Study relationship to both English and German languages

Read for next class

Park, Chapters 2 PBL 2