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CHAPTER 1

What Is Biological
Anthropology?

Copyright © 2018 W. W. Norton & Company


Announcements
Read:
Ch. 2
Questions Addressed
in This Chapter
• What is anthropology?

• What is biological anthropology?

• What makes humans so different from other animals?

• How do biological anthropologists know what they know?


What is Anthropology?

• ….study of humankind (human


beings), both past & present.
As a discipline, Anthropology is

Holistic
….study the WHOLE of the human condition
– History: (past, present, future)
– Biology (variations, DNA, etc.)
– Language (Including symbols)
– Culture (unique to each group)
Anthropology is divided into 4
main sub- fields
1. Cultural Anthropology
Study cultural patterns of human thought, belief,
behavior, & diversity of life-ways of groups of people.

Lip plate: Amazon/Asia Neck ring: Amazon/Asia


ETHNOGRAPHY
– Primary way Cultural anthropologists collect
data.

detailed DESCRIPTION (written or oral)


of a particular society, or culture
• Topics : religion, ritual, gender roles, etc.
2. Archaeology
Study past cultures
• Focus on material
remains; sites,
burials, &
ARTIFACTS
Artifacts
Material objects made
or modified by past
cultures/hominins
Hominins
Members of an evolutionary group including
MODERN HUMANS and human-like ancestors
(NOW extinct bipeds)
Archaeologists
-Specialize in the recovery &
interpretation of material remains or
artifacts from past cultures.
Archaeologists
DO NOT
dig up dinosaur
bones all day!!!
3. Linguistic Anthropology
Study the
construction, use,
& form of human
language.
Linguistic Anthropology
Focus:
–Body language
–Symbols
–Accents, etc.
4. Physical/Biological Anthropology
Study….human
evolution, variation,
& adaptation of
both modern & past
people.
Biological Anthropologists Also study:
Forensics, primatology, human variation, DNA, etc

Dr. Francesco Coschino Jochen Tack/Alamy Barbara Piperata

AP Photo/Alan Marler Daniel Herard/Science Source Penlope Breese/Getty Images


RECAP
Scientific Method
We are a curious species:
• … like to explain things we perceive
through our senses.
Science
Science is question-driven,
evidence-based activity
used to seek out reliable
explanations for natural
phenomena/natural world.
• The procedure scientists
follow is called:

Scientific
Method
Scientific Method
5 Steps

• 1) Observation: Using 1 of 5 senses


• 2) Question: ask a question
• 3) Hypothesis: provisional explanation
to a phenomenon (must be testable)
4)Experimentation/ Data Collection
• 5)Theory or Law: based on conclusion(s)
The Scientific Method

5 Steps
Theory
Consistent, repeated
testing…………Verified
• Explains a
phenomenon;
supported by
evidence
A THEORY is
….a PROVEN
hypothesis……valid as
long as there is
– NO evidence to
dispute it.

• Most are long-standing.

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