This document provides an overview of key concepts in anthropological understanding of culture: 1. Culture is learned and shared within a group. It includes knowledge, beliefs, customs, and capabilities that are acquired by members of a society. Over 160 definitions have been proposed. 2. Culture first emerged among anatomically modern humans over 100,000 years ago, as symbolic behaviors like art, burial rituals, and cave paintings indicated a more potent role for culture than biology. 3. Culture is adaptive and integrated. It allows humans to manipulate their environments and depend on cultural rather than just biological adaptation. While some aspects are neutral or maladaptive, culture generally functions as an interrelated whole. 4. Culture is

1. ANTH45 Summer 2008 Section 101 What is Culture?

2. vs.