Introduction to Anthropology and Human Evolution

Kinship

Study of family relationships and structures.

Applied Anthropology

Using anthropology to solve real-world problems.

Mary Leakey

Famous physical anthropologist known for fossil discoveries.

Howard Carter

Archaeologist who discovered King Tut's tomb.

Margaret Mead

Influential cultural anthropologist known for fieldwork.

Mass Graves

Sites containing multiple human remains from tragedies.

Navajo Health Beliefs

Traditional beliefs influencing healthcare practices.

The Bone Lady

Book by forensic anthropologist Mary Manhein.

Ethnography

Detailed cultural description based on fieldwork.

Ethnology

Comparative study of cultures using ethnographic accounts.

Emic Perspective

Insider's view of a culture.

King Cake

Traditional cake associated with Mardi Gras festivities.

Fieldwork Duration

Typically requires at least two years for studies.

Data Collection

Gathering information through observation and participation.

Comparative Analysis

Examining cultural similarities and differences.

Statistical Tests

Quantitative analysis often less emphasized in anthropology.

Horticultural Knowledge

Understanding of plant cultivation and gardening practices.

Subsistence Pattern

Methods used by cultures to obtain food.

Division of Labor

Allocation of different tasks among group members.

Cultural Relativism

Understanding cultures without personal biases or judgments.

Sir Edward Tylor

Anthropologist who defined culture in 1871.

Enculturation

Transmission of culture from one generation to another.

Cultural Characteristics

Six traits that define and describe culture.

Imposing on Nature

Culture's ability to override natural processes temporarily.

Cultural Rules

Social norms that dictate behavior in specific contexts.

Bizarre Cultures

Initial perception of unfamiliar cultures as strange.

Cultural Contributions

Valuable insights and practices from various cultures.

Complex Whole

Tylor's definition emphasizing interconnected aspects of culture.

Cultural Context

Understanding behaviors within their cultural backgrounds.

Public Urination

Culturally accepted in some societies, illegal in others.

Dynamic Culture

Culture that evolves over time, adapting to changes.

Cultural Generalities

Common traits shared by all cultures.

Cultural Particulars

Unique aspects specific to a particular culture.

Order Primates

Taxonomic classification including humans, monkeys, and apes.

Primatology

Study of non-human primates and their behavior.

Field Studies

Research conducted in natural habitats of primates.

George Schaller

Pioneering researcher of mountain gorillas in Africa.

Dian Fossey

Studied gorillas, revealing their non-aggressive nature.

Mammalian Characteristics

Traits defining mammals, including hair and warm-bloodedness.

Mammary Glands

Glands in females that produce milk for infants.

Complex Brain

Larger brain size relative to body size in mammals.

Primate Limbs

Primates have five-digit hands and feet for grasping.

Nail Structure

Primates possess nails instead of claws on digits.

Locomotion

Movement adaptations unique to primate anatomy.

Non-Aggressive Gorillas

Gorillas are primarily herbivorous and non-threatening.

Evolution of Mammals

Mammals emerged around 65 million years ago.

Opposable thumb

Thumb can touch other fingers for grasping.

Prehensile hands

Hands adapted for grasping, unlike dog paws.

Power grip

Ability to grasp large objects like cans.

Precision grip

Ability to grasp small objects like pencils.

Flexible clavicle

Allows increased arm mobility in primates.

Four types of teeth

Includes incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.

Reduced snout

Shorter snout compared to other mammals.

Social organization

Includes various group structures like harems and pairs.

Species count

Approximately 185 species of non-human primates today.

Extinction

Many primates may vanish in next century.

Tropical Animals

Primates inhabit areas between Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn.

Food Availability

Tropics provide year-round food resources for primates.

Prosimians

Most primitive primates, like lemurs and bushbabies.

Neotropical Monkeys

New World Monkeys, primarily arboreal species.

Old World Monkeys

Larger primates, no prehensile tails, found in Africa and Asia.

Terrestrial Baboons

Old World monkeys that primarily live on the ground.

Apes

Largest non-human primates, lack tails.

Monogamous Apes

Gibbons and siamangs are the only truly monogamous primates.

Arboreal Orangutans

Large apes that primarily live in trees.

Harem Groups

Gorillas live in social structures with multiple females.

Chimpanzees

Show complex behaviors and tool-making abilities.

Mya

Abbreviation for million years ago in geological time.

Purgatorius

Earliest proto-primate fossil, size of a large rat.

Proconsul

Considered the first ape, lived about 27 mya.

General Mammal Characteristics

Prosimians retain traits like a wet nose.

Evolutionary Trends

Focus on general characteristics over specific dates.

Fossil Record

Paleontological studies reveal primate evolution timeline.

Frugivorous

Diet primarily consisting of fruits.

Y-5 molar

Molar tooth pattern with five cusps.

Gigantopithecus

Large ape, possibly ten feet tall.

Laetoli footprints

Fossilized footprints indicating bipedal locomotion.

Energy efficiency

Less energy used when walking on two legs.

Hominoid

Group including all living and extinct African apes.

Hominin

Group of bipedal human ancestors and humans.

Rift Valley

Key paleoanthropological site in East Africa.

Geological processes

Natural events affecting fossil accessibility over time.

Australopithecus afarensis

Species of early hominid, includes famous Lucy.

Post-cranial material

Bones below the skull, important for locomotion studies.

Habitual bipedalism

Regular walking on two legs, indicated by Lucy.

Subdisciplines of Anthropology

Four main branches: physical, archaeology, linguistic, cultural.

Human Osteology

Study of human bones and skeletal remains.

Molecular Anthropology

Study of genetic variation among humans.

Archaeology

Study of material remains of past cultures.

Artifacts

Objects made by humans, like pottery.

Forensic Anthropology

Analysis of skeletal remains in legal contexts.

Field Research

Data collection method in natural settings.

Participant Observation

Learning culture through active involvement and observation.

Culture Shock

Discomfort experienced in a new cultural environment.

Etic Perspective

Outsider's interpretation of a culture.

Mardi Gras

Cultural celebration with historical and religious significance.

Language Requirement

Anthropologists must learn the local language.

Translators

Individuals assisting anthropologists in language communication.

Cultural Significance

Importance of cultural practices and symbols.

Interviews

Discussions with culture members for deeper insights.