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University of Toronto, Mississauga *

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203

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Anthropology

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Oct 30, 2023

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doc

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ANT 101H INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY & ARCHAEOLOGY What is Anthropology? The study of the human experience from multiple perspectives (Lewis et al., 2013) A holistic approach to humankind Encompasses both CULTURE AND BIOLOGY  Anthropos – “human”  Logos – “study of” The BIOCULTURAL APPROACH CULTURE Human behavior that is learned and shared by members of a society Not biologically inherited Seen as an adaptive mechanism and not biologically inheritant but is transmitted from one generation to the next) Examination of culture as an adaptive mechanism Evolutionary perspective  Adaption to an environment  Scientific method FOUR subfields of Anthropology 1. Sociocultural Holistic study of human behavior Ethnographies Cross cultural studies( ethnologies) (go into society and use participant observation and form ethnographies [not ethnology which is when you compare lots of ethnographies] therefore writing descriptions of a particular culture or society) 2. Linguistics The study of human speech and language  includes both the origins of language in general and analysis of specific languages (Lewis et al., 2013)  There is an intricate link between language with culture (studies phonetics and origins. We are not unique in the fact that we have culture. We are unique in our acquisition of language.) 3 . Archaeology The study of material remains left by cultures, primarily of the past –Prehistorical (first nation and no documents) –Historical (there are documents) –Public archeology ( cultural resource management- preserving archeological path) (created everyday as you produce an artifact that represents the behaviours of people)

4. Biological/Physical Anthropology Biological study of humans and their relatives within the framework of evolution and it’s relationship to culture Includes  humans as primates  human ancestry  Modern human variation ( biological study of humans and primates) 4 Subfields of Physical Anthropology 1 . Paleoanthropology •Study of human evolution, particularly through fossil remains (primate evolution to ourselves) 2. molecular anthropology Genetics is crucial to understanding evolutionary relationships Can examine the genetic relationships between  human populations  humans and their primate relatives  Humans and their primate ancestors (very important and will be eluded in other classes) 3. Primatology Study of non-human primate behavior & biology Primate paleontology – study of primate fossil record (biology and behavior) 4. Osteology Study of modern human skeletons. Bone biology & physiology (human skeletons) 5 Subfields of osteology 1.Population relationships •All human populations are biologically related to each other in time & space • Degree of the relationship is “Biological Distance” •2 methods  Osteometrics & odontometrics  Discontinuous traits 2. Palaeonutrition –Determination of dietary components of ancient populations

–2 methods: Biochemical analysis Nutritional deficiencies determination of dietary components on bones (Paleo- old Nutrition- diet) (biochemical markers are used) Rickets- vitamin D deficiency 3. Palaeodemography –Study of the structure of populations –E.g. age at death, sex ratio of population 4. Palaeopathology Determination and quantification of morbid conditions that leave evidence on bone (Pathology- diseases) (anti-mortem, pery mortem and post mortem) 5. Forensic Anthropology Recovery and analysis of skeletonized human remains for law enforcement agencies, particularly in the identification of victims (recent human remains of forensic interest. 3 investigative areas –Suspicious death –Mass disasters – Political atrocities Applied Anthropology  Application of anthropological principles and research in other fields  Practical use of knowledge & expertise of anthropology

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