Midterm Exam - Anthro 1020

Cultural Anthropology

Studies known as Ethnography - studying descriptions of the culture and sub subculture they are studying.

Linguistics

determining the divergence times of languages to determine when people entered the New World.

Archaeology

The study of the past through the use of material remains - trash!

Evolutionary Anthropology

Study of biology of humans or evolutionary theoretical perspective

Cushing

Worked with the Zuni native Americans - Not an archeologist but built up a lot of ethnographic knowledge - a true four field anthropologist

Boas

“Father of Anthropology” - detailed culture study

Malinowski

Took his armchair outside - Traveling during WW - given two options - worked among the Trobriand islanders for the rest of his career

Lyell

published “Principles of Geology” - popularized the theory of uniformitarianism

Herodotus

Coined the term history - the study of the recent past - arm-chair anthropologist

Taung Child

Raymond dart found a skull of an Australopithecus africanus within limestone quarry in south Africa - Child was 3-4 years of age - ancestor of humans

Lucy

Fossils found in northern Ethiopia - first known Australopithecus - Afarensis - older than africanus

Genetic Drift

Random stuff that happens within a single population - smaller the population the greater the effect genetic drift.

Natural Selection

The species that is best adapted to the CURRENT environment will be more reproductively successful.

Mutation

Essentially accidents in DNA transmission caused by the outside environment. - affect genotype not the phenotype

Gene Flow

The intro of genetic diversity from another population

A Afarensis

Age - 3.9-2.9 million years ago - brain size of 380-430 cc’s - walked on two feet - found only in Africa - Likely lived on the savannah - Gracile

A Africanus

Age: 3-2.3 million years ago - Brain size - 440 cc Found only in Africa - gracile (small)

H Habilis

Emerged around 2.5 mya from a form of gracile - not until 1.8 mya that they developed brain function. within Homo genus - scavenger - used tools - may not be able to speak like humans - only in Africa

H Erectus

Brain size - 600-1,225 cc - look like us - less hair than homo habilis, taller than them, can speak - 1.8 -.5 million years ago

Neanderthals

Not human but around - physically larger and more muscular that us - brow ridges - much larger noses - average cranial of around 14,00 cc’s - valued those who were injured and were too old to work

Mt DNA

Found within mitochondria passed only maternally: not as affected by natural selection than nDNA - Portions are hypervariable - There are more copies than nDNA - only comes from mothers

PCR

Makes it easier for genetic studies - much faster and smaller amount needed - 454 sequencing

Primate Grooming

the social act of one individual cleaning the fur or hair of another, which serves both hygienic and important social functions within primate societies

Brachiation

arboreal locomotion in which animals swing hand‑over‑hand beneath branches using only their arms

Great Apes

a large ape of a family closely related to humans, including the gorilla, orangutan, and chimpanzees, but excluding the gibbons; an anthropoid ape.

Gatherer-Hunters

Big men - status earned through action

Horticulture

small scale, non-intensive plant cultivation used primarily for subsistence - simple tools and techniques

Agriculture

cultivation of plants and the raising of livestock for food, fiber, and fuel

Domestication

long-term process by which humans genetically and behaviorally modify wild plants and animals to survive.

Pastoralist

Breeding and managing large herds of domesticated animals. Primary source of food - large amount of movement.

Bands

People live in a small group containing 25 people or less - political power=”Big Man”

Tribes

A social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social economic or religious affiliation.

Chiefdoms

a territory or state ruled by a chief

States

Social and cultural phenomenon with authority of a defined territory or population.

Potlatch

Feat that are sponsored by an elite - everyone gets together and the host gives out foo

Marpole

2400-1000 B.P. - Appearance of Cranium deformation - marked increases in social complexity

Labret

3500 - 2400 B.P. - Earliest reliable evidence for storage - only found on islands not on mainland - various types of harpoons toggling and non-toggling - Labrets can be removed and put back in

Survey

Shovel Test Probes - small holes, work in areas with little ground visibility or suspected subsurface deposits

Pedestrian - Walking an area in prescribed intervals, ground visibility

Excavation

Conducted in units and level - dug by the natural stratigraphy

CRM

SHPO in every state differs qualifications to let an archaeologist work - standard requirements for archaeological surveys and excavations

NAGPRA

passed in 1990 - contact any native groups that are culturally affiliated with the good they went through and they have the right to rebury the goods.

Fossils

animal or human remains that have been replaced by minerals

Artifacts

actual tools and items that have been preserved and left behind.