study set for ANTHRO 1AA3, Sex Food & Death -- McMaster University
Fieldwork
Varied research methods in anthropology, including site visits, living with subjects, and excavations.
Culture
Learned and shared behaviors shaping human experience, encompassing foodways, religion, and social norms.
Holism
Integrating knowledge about human society, culture, environment, and biology as interconnected aspects.
Biocultural Approaches
Understanding humans as influenced by both biological and cultural factors.
Cultural Relativism
Research approach contextualizing behavior within a society's cultural frame.
Archaeology
Study of human material culture, including artifacts, buildings, and landscapes.
Biological Anthropology
Study of human evolution, behavior, and adaptation through a biological lens.
Cultural Anthropology
Study of contemporary cultures and societies through participant observation and interviews.
Linguistic Anthropology
Study of language in human societies, encompassing structural and sociolinguistics.
Paleoanthropology
Study of human evolution through fossil and archaeological records.
Forensic Anthropology
Application of skeletal analysis in archaeology to solve criminal cases.
Paleopathology
Study of ancient diseases in human remains.
Medical Anthropology
Study of health and illness within cultural, historical, and political contexts.
Sex
Bodily classification based on reproductive anatomy and secondary sex characteristics.
Gender
Socially constructed roles and behaviors associated with primary and secondary sex traits.
Intersex
Conditions with both male and female reproductive organs, not fitting the sex binary.
Travesti
Individuals assigned male at birth who identify as 'feminine' without considering themselves 'men' or 'women'.
Evolution
Biological and cultural changes in species over generations.
Bipedalism
Ability to walk on two legs instead of four.
Savannah Hypothesis
Theory suggesting bipedalism evolved due to habitat shift and diet changes.
Hominin
Primate species closely related to humans, including direct ancestors.
Hominid
Biological group encompassing hominins and other related species.
Hominoid
Superfamily including hominins, hominids, and lesser apes like gibbons.
Relative Dating
Determining age in relation to other subjects.
Absolute Dating
Providing a numerical date for artifacts manufacture or use.
Primitive Features/Traits
Inherited traits from distant ancestors.
Derived Features/Traits
Unique anatomical traits appearing through mutation in modern humans.
Strepsirrhines
Suborder of primates including lemurs and lorises with specific dental and facial features.
Haplorrhines
Suborder of primates including tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans with distinct nasal and lip features.
Platyrrhines
New World anthropoids like **** monkeys with unique dental formula, flat nose, and prehensile tails.
Catarrhines
Old World anthropoids like baboons and humans with a different dental formula and nostril orientation.
Don Kulick
Author of a paper on Travesti, a gender identity in Brazil.
Margaret Mead
Anthropologist known for participant-observation work in Samoa and Papua New Guinea, studying gender and cultural variations.
Lactase
Enzyme allowing milk digestion tied to lactase persistence
Agricultural Practice
Impacts diets of cultures
Lactase Activity Decline
Occurs in most populations during childhood
Lactase Persistence
High rates in northern Europeans, south Asians, and other populations
Fermented Milk Products
Include yogurt, kefir, and cheese in lactase-deficient populations
Cheese Making
Involves draining lactose-rich whey from milk solids
Food as Cultural
Food choices influenced by culture, religion, and social aspects
Food Preferences
Significantly impact individual diets
Food Taboo
Avoidance of specific foods beyond simple dislike
Food Restrictions
Periodic denial of certain foods, like raw fish for pregnant women
Geophagy
Intentional consumption of earth, like clay and chalk
The Sacred Cow
Cows revered in Indian culture due to economic and religious significance
Nyotaimori
Japanese tradition of eating sushi off a naked woman's body
Milk Consumption in the US
Perceived as essential for fetal growth, lactation, and bone health
William Rathje
Archaeologist known for the Garbology project in Tucson, Arizona
Biological Profile
Includes skeletal tissues, age, stature, sex, and unique traits
Pelvis (Female)
Wider greater pelvis, shorter sacrum, oval pelvic inlet
Pelvis (Male)
Narrow greater pelvis, longer sacrum, heart-shaped pelvic inlet
Skull (Female)
Rounded forehead, less pronounced brow ridge
Skull (Male)
Sloping forehead, vertical ramus with flared gonial angles
Perimortem Trauma
Injuries at or near time of death, e.g., damaged bones
Antemortem Trauma
Injuries before death, showing healing progress
Postmortem Trauma
Injuries occurring after death
Taphonomy
Study of organic remains' transition to fossils
Autolysis
Cell destruction by released enzymes
Putrefaction
Decay of organic matter, produces foul odor
Decomposition
Breakdown of dead organism into simpler matter
Medicolegal Significance
Assessing relevance of remains for legal cases
Body Farms
Research facilities studying human decomp
William Bass
Established Anthropology Research Facility in 1981
Tracy Rogers
Forensic science director focusing on skeletal analysis
Kristina Killgrove
Her research in Oplontis (small town near Pompeii) using bioarcheology to study how people lived before the eruption of the volcano
Sarah Baartman
Victim of human sexual trafficking due to body type
Embalming
Preserving a corpse from decay, often with fluids
Return to the Earth
Various burial rituals like cremation or sky burials
Secondary Burial
Moving remains to a secondary spot, includes retreatment
Funerals
Ceremonies honoring the deceased
Mortuary Archaeology
Focuses on cemeteries, burials, and grave goods
Grave Goods
Items left in burials reflecting social status
Burial Rituals
Expression of culture, values, and beliefs
Repatriation
Return of items to their place of origin
Brain Death
Complete non-communicative brain functions
Taphophobia
Fear of being buried alive
CRM Archaeology
Cultural resource management for respectful retrieval
Decolonization
Confronting colonial legacies' impact on cultures
Body Politics
How political and social forces control bodies for collective needs
Sickness
Socially recognized expectations for ill individuals, may include stigma or disbelief
Healer
Individual with specialist knowledge and power in healing, distinct from everyday caregivers
Biomedical
Mainstream medical practitioners like doctors, nurses, and midwives
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Includes chiropractors, naturopaths, and homeopaths, outside mainstream medicine
Traditional Healers
Specialists like Sangomas, Christian Faith Healers, Tvix need, and h'iloletik
Healing
Process of restoring health, influenced by culture, roles filled by various practitioners
Medical Pluralism
Coexistence of multiple healing systems within a culture
Virgin Soil Epidemics
Initial outbreak of a new disease in an area, often a result of colonialism
Leprosy
Infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae bacteria
affects extremities and face
destruction of maxillary pallet and nasal cartilage
loss of pencilling of fingers and toes
general infection
Harris Lines
Sclerotic lines in long bones indicating growth disruption, seen on x-rays
Vitamin D Deficiency
Low levels cause bone issues, thinning, brittleness, and misshapen bones
Osteological Paradox
Interpretation of skeletal lesions as resilience or frailty in diseased individuals
Tuberculosis
Widespread bacterial infection, transmitted through respiratory droplets
Rickets
Bone disease in children due to vitamin D deficiency, leads to weakened bones
Syphilis
Chronic bacterial disease spread through sexual contact or congenitally
Scurvy
Disease from vitamin C deficiency, causes bleeding gums and skin
pattern of lesions across the skeleton
Ebola
Disease outbreak in Africa affecting the immune system
Humoral Health System
Belief that balancing bodily fluids restores health
Ayurvedic Depression
Mental health equilibrium through Gunas, Tridosha, and Panchabhuta in Ayurveda
Navajo Healing
Blends traditional and Christian beliefs, includes NAC healing ceremonies
Koro
Culture-bound syndrome where individuals fear genitalia shrinkage