The document discusses how biological anthropologists study cultural practices and their variations between different ethnic groups. It provides numerous examples of aspects of culture that anthropologists examine, such as marriage customs, funeral rituals, food taboos, body modifications, subsistence strategies, healthcare beliefs, rituals and ceremonies. The document emphasizes that biological anthropologists seek to understand each cultural practice within its own social and environmental context.

1. Biological Anthropology
Cultures and ethnic variations
Obaje Godwin Sunday
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8/21/2023
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2. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Cultural practices: In biological anthropology, cultural practices refer to the
diverse array of behaviors, beliefs, and customs exhibited by different
groups of people.
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3. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Ethnicity: Biological anthropologists study how ethnicity, which is a shared
cultural heritage and identity, shapes human biological variation.
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4. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Cultural relativism: Biological anthropologists adopt a viewpoint of cultural
relativism, acknowledging that every cultural practice should be
understood within its own social, historical, and environmental context.
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5. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Marriage customs: Examining marriage customs provides insights into
cultural practices associated with partner selection, dowry systems, and
the formation of kinship ties.
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6. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Funeral rituals: Different ethnic groups exhibit distinct funeral rituals, such
as burial practices, mourning ceremonies, and beliefs surrounding death
and the afterlife.
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7. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Food taboos: Cultural practices often include food taboos, which are
prohibitions or restrictions on the consumption of certain animals, plants,
or food ingredients due to cultural, religious, or ecological reasons.
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8. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Body modifications: Biological anthropology explores various body
modification practices across different cultures, including tattooing,
scarification, piercing, and elongation of body parts.
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9. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Bedouin tribes: Studying Bedouin tribes provides insights into their
nomadic lifestyle, traditional practices, and cultural adaptations to harsh
desert environments.
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10. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Indigenous cultures: Biological anthropology highlights the diversity and
unique cultural practices of indigenous communities worldwide, including
their sustainable agricultural practices, medicinal knowledge, and social
systems.
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11. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Genetic admixture: Examining genetic admixture in different populations
sheds light on historical migrations, interactions, and the mixing of distinct
ethnic groups.
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12. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Cultural evolution: Biological anthropologists investigate how cultural
practices evolve and change over time, leading to the development of new
practices and the loss of old traditions.
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13. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Subsistence strategies: Different ethnic groups employ varied subsistence
strategies, such as hunting and gathering, pastoralism, agriculture, and
fishing, depending on their ecological contexts.
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14. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Medical beliefs and practices: Studying cultural practices regarding health
and medicine uncovers the diverse beliefs, treatments, and ethnomedical
systems used by different ethnic groups around the world.
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15. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Rituals and ceremonies: Biological anthropologists examine rituals and
ceremonies, including rites of passage, initiation rituals, religious practices,
and communal celebrations, to understand cultural values and social
cohesion.
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16. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Clothing and adornment: Cultural practices related to clothing
and adornment vary greatly across different ethnicities,
reflecting aspects such as social status, identity, and artistic
expression.
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17. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Gender roles: Biological anthropology explores how gender roles and
expectations differ across cultures, influencing social, economic, and
political dynamics in diverse ethnic groups.
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18. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Kinship systems: Examining kinship systems reveals culturally
specific patterns of family organization, marriage rules,
inheritance, and the importance of extended family networks.
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19. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Ethnomedicine: Biological anthropologists investigate traditional healing
practices, herbal remedies, and indigenous medical knowledge passed
down through generations within specific cultural groups.
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20. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Dance and music: Cultural practices involving dance and music reflect
unique forms of expression, communication, and cultural identity through
movement, rhythm, and melody.
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21. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Ritual cannibalism: While not prevalent in modern societies, biological
anthropologists study historical instances of ritual cannibalism among
certain ethnic groups to understand cultural symbolism and social
dynamics.
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22. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Art and aesthetics: Different ethnic groups exhibit diverse artistic practices,
including cave paintings, pottery, body art, sculpture, and architecture,
each reflecting cultural aesthetics and symbolic meanings.
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23. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Language and communication: Biological anthropologists explore how
language and communication patterns vary across ethnic groups,
including oral traditions, sign languages, and dialects.
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24. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Child-rearing practices: Cultural practices related to child-rearing, such as
breastfeeding, sleeping arrangements, discipline methods, and education,
differ across ethnicities, highlighting diverse cultural values and
socialization techniques.
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25. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Sacred landscapes and spaces: Biological anthropology investigates the
cultural significance of specific landscapes, sacred sites, and architecture
in ethnic groups, offering insights into religious beliefs and cultural
practices.
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26. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Endogamy and exogamy: Examining patterns of endogamy (marriage
within a specific ethnic group) and exogamy (marriage outside one's ethnic
group) illuminates cultural practices related to kinship, social alliances, and
the maintenance of ethnic identities.
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27. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Traditional healing systems: Cultural practices surrounding traditional
healing systems, such as Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, or Native
American healing practices, reveal alternative approaches to health and
well-being among different ethnic groups.
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28. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Agricultural practices: Biological anthropologists analyze the wide range of
agricultural practices across ethnicities, including irrigation techniques,
crop choices, and land management strategies.
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Figures. Farming in anthropology, organic farming, and sustainable agriculture

29. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Material culture: The study of material culture in biological anthropology
involves analyzing artifacts, tools, and objects crafted by various ethnic
groups, revealing technological advancements and cultural preferences.
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Figures. Material culture in sociology, cultural artifact, and material cultural examples

30. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Hunting methods: Ethnic groups employ distinct hunting methods and
strategies, such as bow and arrow, spearfishing, trapping, or communal
hunting, influenced by environmental conditions and cultural traditions.
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31. Cultures and ethnic variations
• Body image and ideals: Exploring cultural practices related to body image,
beauty standards, and ideals of attractiveness showcases the diversity of
ethnic perspectives on physical appearance and aesthetics.
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