Introduction to
ANTHROPOLOGY
PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology is the study of humans throughout all time and space. Anthropologists study the beginnings of our species several million years ago up to the present and in every environment in which humans have lived. There are even anthropologists who are trying to anticipate how humans will live in outer space!
As you might have guessed, anthropology is a broad discipline. There are four major subdivisions within anthropology: physical or biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, archaeology and linguistic anthropology.
Physical or biological anthropology is the study of humans as biological organisms. Physical anthropologists want to learn more about how our species has evolved, therefore some search for and analyze the fossil remains of our ancestors. Others, trained in genetics, are interested in variations among individuals or populations and in the process of adaptation or how genetic changes over many generations produce differences in biological traits. Primatologists are also called physical anthropologists. They analyze primate anatomy and behavior to better understand our closest relatives and our own evolution.
Cultural anthropology is the study of the variation in cultures of populations existing today or in the very recent past. Cultural anthropologists analyze all aspects of behavior within a society. Cultural anthropology, like all the other subfields, is a holistic science. While cultural anthropologists might be interested in the marriage system of a particular society, s/he must examine how all other parts of the society (economic, political, religious, etc.) affect it and are affected by it. Cultural anthropologists typically do fieldwork, traveling to another culture (or subculture) to live among a group of people and observe their behavior. They usually write up their report in the form of an ethnography. The goals behind producing an ethnography are to objectively and accurately describe a particular culture and to generate comparisons of cultures to determine common and unique features among different cultures.
Archaeology is the study of the material culture of past societies Archaeologists infer the behavior of people in the past by excavating and analyzing artifacts. Artifacts include tools, residences, pottery, human and animal bones, and anything else that has survived. Archaeology is not what you see in an Indiana Jones movie! It is often exhausting work and the finds are usually not nearly as romantic as portrayed in films. Be aware that once a site is touched it is destroyed forever so if you ever encounter one, contact your local contract archaeology firm.
Linguistic anthropology is the study of language. Linguistic anthropologists include those who are interested in the evolution of language, analyze language in non-literate societies, study non-verbal communication, examine similarities among languages to determine past relationships between human groups, and also those who are interested in the relationship between language and culture.
ARCHAEOLOGY
