Intro to Physical Anthropology. Content: Chapter 1

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1 Intro to Physical Anthropology Content: Chapter 1 1

2 Course website Very important for this class -Syllabus -Assignment instructions -Sample essays, tests, and questions -Study guides 2

3 Course website and personal Prof Creason Transferred from LBCC BA in anthropology from UCLA MA in anthropology from CSUN -focused on paleoanthropology -Interested in paleopathology and the archaeology of war 3

4 Important terms to learn anthropology *Evolution: change in the genetic structure of a population over time *Adaptation: an anatomical, physiological, or behavioral response of an organism or a population to the environment. -the result of evolutionary change 4

5 Important terms to learn anthropology *Genetics: study of gene structure and action -also studies the patterns of trait inheritance *Behavior: any response by an organism to internal or external stimuli. I.e., a response to the environment 5

6 Important terms to learn anthropology *Hominins: members of the evolutionary lineage that includes modern Homo sapiens (us) and all our extinct bipedal relatives. Anthropology: the study of hominins Obviously much more... 6

7 Anthropology: the field of inquiry that studies human culture and the evolutionary aspects of human biology. 7

8 Anthropology: the field of inquiry that studies human culture and the evolutionary aspects of human biology. 8

9 Anthropology: the field of inquiry that studies human culture and the evolutionary aspects of human biology. Anthropology in the US has four main subfields: cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, archaeology, and physical anthropology 9

Cultural anthropology Cultural anthropology: the study of patterns of belief and behavior found in modern and historic human societies -use ethnographies (descriptive studies of human

10 Cultural anthropology Cultural anthropology: the study of patterns of belief and behavior found in modern and historic human societies -use ethnographies (descriptive studies of human societies) to study cultures other cultures, one's own culture, and subcultures *Culture: set of learned behaviors transmitted from generation to the next generation non-genetically 10

Linguistic anthropology Linguistic anthropology: study of human speech and language noting their interactions with different aspects of culture (e.g., role of symbols in society, social identity, etc.

11 Linguistic anthropology Linguistic anthropology: study of human speech and language noting their interactions with different aspects of culture (e.g., role of symbols in society, social identity, etc.). -compare/contrast languages used today to trace their historical ties -language usage is said to be uniquely human 11

12 Linguistic anthropology Linguistic anthropology: study of human speech and language noting their interactions with different aspects of culture (e.g., role of symbols in society, social identity, etc.). -compare/contrast languages used today to trace their historical ties -language usage is said to be uniquely human 12

artifacts: objects or materials made or modified for use by

13 Archaeology Archaeology: study of earlier cultures through analyzing the material remains of past societies Analyze artifacts: objects or materials made or modified for use by hominins -archaeologists excavate in order to gain info about human behavior 13

14 Introduction: What is anthropology? Anthropology: seeks to explain variation in human adaptations Physical anthropology: seeks to explain the relationship between human behavior and biology 14

15 Physical anthropology Physical anthropology: the study of human biology and behavior in an evolutionary context Physical anthropology = biological anthropology -use of 'biological' reflects the modern shift towards using genetics, developmental biology, and the modern synthetic theory of evolution 15

16 Subfields of physical anthropology Primatology: the study of nonhuman primate biology and behavior -primatologists use the comparative approach 16

17 Subfields of physical anthropology Paleoanthropology: the study of anatomical and behavioral human evolutionary history as revealed in the fossil record. -attempts to reconstruct our ancestors' adaptations and behaviors Osteology: the study of skeleton structure and function 17

techniques to legal matters -forensic anthropologists help

18 Subfields of physical anthropology Forensic anthropology: the application of archaeological and osteological techniques to legal matters -forensic anthropologists help identify and analyze skeleton remains that have legal significance 18

19 Subfields of physical anthropology Paleopathology: studies incidence of trauma, disease, nutritional deficiency, and other traces of pathology evident on human remains in the fossil record. 19

20 Physical anthropology Physical anthropology: seeks to explain the relationship between human behavior and biology *Biocultural evolution: behavioral aspects of human adaptation -the mutual, interactive evolution of human biology and culture E.g., technology, traditions, language, religion, marriage patterns, social roles, etc. 20

21 Physical anthropology *Biocultural evolution: mutual, interactive evolution of human biology and culture -behavioral aspects of human adaptation E.g., technology, traditions, language, religion, marriage patterns, social roles, etc. 21

22 -Applied anthropology: practical application of anthropological and archaeological theories and techniques 22

23 Reasoning in general Deduction: inferences that use general rules to reach particular conclusions All dogs are mammals. Lassie is a dog. Therefore, Lassie is a mammal. Induction: inferences which tell us probable truths -the use of particular facts to make general rules. On Earth, pens fall downward. We are on Earth. Therefore, probably, my pen will fall downward. Science works mostly with induction Abduction: inferences to the best explanation of the facts 23

24 Scientific thinking Data: facts/observations we want to explain Empirical data: facts gained from experimentation or expansion of observational data to (dis)confirm a hypothesis. Quantitative: data is collected is measurable quantities numerical, mass, weight, volume, length, height, etc. 24

25 Science Science method: stepwise method used by scientists to explain facts about the world. Observation: anything you experience with the five senses Hypothesis: tentative explanation of our observations Scientific testing: precise repetition of an experiment and/or expansion of observed data to confirm, disconfirm, or revise hypotheses. Theory: a tested explanation of the facts. 25

26 Science is about hypothesis testing Scientific testing: precise repetition of an experiment and/or expansion of observed data to confirm, disconfirm, or revise hypotheses. Hypotheses must be falsifiable: possible to identify what facts or observations could disprove a hypothesis -doesn't mean hypothesis is false, only that it's capable of being false 26

27 Science and anthropology Anthropological perspective: interested in understanding the diversity of the human experience within a biological and behavioral context Goals: -extend our knowledge to include cultures other than our own -look at the diversity of human experiences -avoid ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism: viewing other cultures from the inherently biased perspectives of one's own culture 27

Unit 1: Intro to Physical Anthropology & evolution foundation

Unit 1: Intro to Physical Anthropology & evolution foundation 1 Summary 1. Introductions 2. Redtape 3. Question: What things make us so unique? 4. Outline of the course 2 Course website https://creason.co/