Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.docx

Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Exploring Biological Anthropology:
The Essentials, 3rd Edition
CRAIG STANFORD
JOHN S. ALLEN
SUSAN C. ANTÓN
As you work through this set of chapter slides, keep in mind the
notations that are included from your instructor. Open, read
carefully, download if necessary, and use in conjunction with
your reading and video lesson study. All these components
supplement each other. The wise student will keep this in mind.
Introduction
What is Biological Anthropology?
Good question! So now let’s dig in and see what we will
discover.

All life forms on earth, including humans, are connected by
DNA. Consequently, during this course you will encounter this
concept again and again.
*
Anthropology and Its Subfields
Cultural Anthropology
Archaeology
Linguistic Anthropology
Biological Anthropology
While these are the four major subfields of anthropology, a fifth
one has evolved in approximately the last 40 or 50 years. That
one is called “Applied Anthropology.”
Cultural Anthropology
The study of human societies,
especially in a cross-cultural context
EthnologyEthnographyApplied Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology is the study of human social organization
& culture, especiallyrReligion, art, dance, social organization.
Make sure to read and “know” the three areas of cultural
anthropology listed here. “Know” translates to understanding

rather than trying to memorize terms verbatim.
*
Archaeology
The study of the material culture of past peoples
ArtifactsMaterial CultureSalvage Archaeology
Archaeology is the study of the material remains of human
activity, artifacts and the context of their discovery. See the
chapter and video lesson for more on this.
*
Linguistic Anthropology
The study of language, its history and use; also called
anthropological linguistics
Linguistic formLinguistic functionSocial Context
Linguistic Anthropology is the study of the history, function,
structure & physiology of language. Dig in...read the chapter &
view the lesson.
*
Biological Anthropologist:
Any scientist studying evolution as it

relates to the human species
Studies humans as biological organisms, considered in an
evolutionary framework; biological anthropology is sometimes
called physical anthropology.
The Scope of
Biological AnthropologyPaleoanthropologySkeletal Biology and
OsteologyPaleopathology and BioarchaeologyForensic
AnthropologyPrimatologyHuman Biology
Biological Anthropology is sometimes referred to as Physical
Anthropology. Things to remember:
(i) B.A’s work in many fields: medical, forensics, college &
university teaching.
(ii) The focus of Biological Anthropology is evolution,
especially the long journey of the primates all the way toward
Homo sapiens. Also, in the study of evolution, the critical unit
of study is the population…NOT the individual. With all this in
mind, the theory of evolution is considered to be the unifying
principle of the biological sciences.
(iii) A major key in understanding evolutionary processes is the
role of genes. As we will see, the theory of evolution has had
its own evolution, from the simpler 19th century “start up” all
the way to the synthetic theory. Know the latter term well.

Paleoanthropology
The study of the fossil record of
ancestral humans and their primate kin
Study of ancestral fossils leading to Homo sapiens; the fossil
record, the relationships & lines of descent.
Paleoanthropologists excavate at a South African site.
*
Skeletal Biology and Human Osteology
The study of the skeleton and the
patterns and processes of human growth,
physiology, and development
Skeletal Biology is the study of skeletal anatomy; the scientist
will measure & relate parts to one another.

Osteology is the term for the study of patterns & processes of
human growth, physiology & development. Read up on this in
the chapter.
Paleopathology and Bioarchaeology
The study of the disease in ancient
human populations
Paleopathology deals with disease in human populations, recent
or ancient (e.g., read up on how misunderstanding of the 1st
Neandertal discovery resulted in the bumb rap they got!)
d. Bioarchaeology: Study of ancient human remains in
their
archaeological context. Living style & arrangements;
garbage & excrement! Burial sites etc.
Forensic Anthropology
The study of human remains
applied to a legal context
Think CSI Miami “ “Bones” etc. but don’t go looking for a
career based on these shows!; think also war crime and genocide
scenes. Think about the gruesome work of the folks who had to
investigate and catalog the remains found at the 911 scene in
New York.

Forensic anthropologists excavating the skeletal remains and
clothing of one of the victims of a civil war massacre in El
Salvador.
*
Primatology
The study of the non-human primates and
their anatomy, genetics, behavior, and ecology
Primatology was/is the focus of study by Dianne Fossey, Jane
Goodall, and many more scientists. It’s the study of non-human
primates for the lessons they can provide us as to how evolution
has shaped us. “Apes 24/humans 23” Hey, what’s up? What’s
this? Well, some six million years ago something happened at
the genetic level. One pair of chromosomes in some ape
ancestor seemed to disappear. The key work here is “seemed,”
for it actually moved over and connected up with an existing
chromosome pair, thereby starting a long series of evolutionary
steps that enabled “bipedalism.” Look up this term and know it.

Studying the primates can “drive you up a tree!”
*
Human Biology
Deals with human growth and development,
adaptation to environmental extremes,
and human genetics
Of course, there’s a huge amount of study called for here, but
for now look up and learn about issues such as the following:
* Adaptation to our environment--living at high
altitude in High Andes requires a certain body type…check it
out. And what about what’s often referred to as
“Asian eyes”? Here we need to study the
epicanthic fold. Look it up! What about skin color?
* Bio-medical—some ethnic groups are more
prone to certain diseases than are other groups. Dig in. Learn.
Bio-cultural variation—we all look so different from each
other! Life under the forest canopy---light skin! Life in open
Arctic landscape---dark skin?
The Roots of Modern Biological AnthropologyFossil hominid

discoveriesDarwinPhysical anthropologySherwood Washburn’s
SynthesisField studiesNew dating techniquesMultidisciplinary
approach
Read up on and consider these points of importance in our
textbook:
a. In the news: 1856 Discovery of Neandertal Man!
1859 On the Origin of Species is
published.
b. Polygenism vs Monogenism: The 19th century debate
over a series of divine creations vs. a single creation of
human/life. “_Poly” was a sort of compromise to
account for the discovery of “odd-looking” humans. Could this
have
been the basis for much of the racism that follows
even down into our own times?
c. Biological Anthropology begins in mid 19th when
physicians teach anatomy in medical schools. Issues that arose
were/are “Anthropometry” and craniometrics, all feeding the
rise of racism and bigotry.
* Age of colonialism---new human populations are
“discovered” by Christy Columbus and others. The New World,
although never actually “lost,” was “found.”
d. The “new” science: Mid 20th century sees the “new”
biological anthropology emerge at University of Chicago and at
U.C.
Berkeley; a more dynamic view of nature takes root.
The Neo-Darwinian synthesis of the mid 20th century

means the alignment of the disciplines of genetics, anatomy,
ecology and evolutionary theory.
*

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