Anthropology 2 Flashcards
What is a hominid
A group within the order “primates” consisting of all great apes, living or extinct. Etc. chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutan’s, humans
What is hominin
A group within the order “primates” consisting of all humans, living or extinct and chimpanzees.
What is Charles Darwin key theory
Species were forced to evolve or they would become extinct. Those that were able to adapt lived and passed down characteristics to offsprings.
Humans and chimpanzees shared a common ancestor around how many years ago
6 mil
What makes us human?
- Bipedalism( walking upright in two legs)
- (Shorter jaws with smaller teeth)
- Larger brains
- Increasingly comped forms of technology
What was first change that made us human
Fossil evidence shows that our ancestors became bipeds first, followed by teeth and jaws, much later they got larger brains and more complex technology.
What does Logos mean
Reason, or thinking
What is Archaeology
Involves excavation and study of human structures/artefacts such as weapons, clothing, garbage to see how humans lived in thier culture.
What is significant about L’Anse aux Meadows artefact
This site found in Newfoundland and labrador shows evidence of Viking inhabitants in North America. Significant because of pre-Columbian site.
State Skalholt map year and its significance.
It’s significant because it indicates evidence of Viking exploration.
What is organic remains?
once living, such as people, plants, animals or plant organic matter such as food, paper, wood etc.
What is inorganic remains?
never living, stone, metal, clay, plastic, glass- will not rot or decay the way organics do
What is an artifact?
Anything made or used by a human in the past.
What is Assemblage?
The whole collection of artifacts from any given site.
What are features
Structures or areas including dwellings, food, processing sites and walls.
What’s the difference between artefacts and features?
Artefacts are portable, features are not.
Whats a tell
A mound, unexplained by natural geographical phenomena. They indicate remains of human habitation.
What is Stratigraphy?
Studying the layers of remains at a site.
As you dig deeper objects get progressively older.
What is radiocarbon dating?
Determining the age of organic material by measuring the level of radioisotope carbon 14. Can use to count up to 40,000 years.
What is Dendrochronology?
Using tree rings to date wood used in artifacts or structures.
What is typology?
Grouping artifacts together by characteristics they have in common.
What is Mitochondrial DNA dating?
mtDNA dating is based on the assumption that mutations occur at a constant rate.The accumulated mutations in DNA can be measured, and the time necessary for them to occur calculated.
What is linguistic anthropology?
Involves the study of the structure of language, how languages vary across cultures. And how languages change over time.
What is the Sapir- Whorf Hypothesis?
The way humans understand the world around them is influenced significantly by their language.
What is structural linguistics?
The study of how sounds are put together to create meaning.
Who is the father of structural linguistics?
Noam Chomsky
What is universal grammar theory
that human children are born with innate, universal rules for grammar and apply these rules as they learn their mother tongue.
Evolutionary biologists disagree with this theory, saying language is not encoded in the brain but is a learned skill.
What is sociolinguistic anthro
The study of how people use language within their culture to express status and context.
Sociolinguists also study body language in different cultural contexts.
what is it called…
helping others when doing so does not offer a clear benefit or advantage.
Altruism in primate behaviour
who is Franz de Waal and what did he do
research on the moral behaviour of primates and social structure
contribute
Who were the trimates
- Jane Goodell- Observed tool-use and complex social behavior among chimpanzees.
- Dian Fossey- Became involved in anti-poaching efforts.
- Birute Galdikas-Involved in conservation efforts.
Name 2 sense of mind statements and what they mean
- Sense of mind – knowing that others see the world from their own perspective .
- -Sense of fairness – comparing circumstance to that of others.
What is Palentheology
Bones and stones branch of anthropology
-evidence such as preserved remains impression of biological matter (fossils) and stone tools.
What is facultative and obligate biped.
facultative- Could run and walk on two legs under exceptional circumstances.
obligate- Walk and runs on two legs as a normal and primary method of mobility.
Who is reymound dart and what did he discover.
Dart made the skull the type specimen of a new genus and species, Australopithecus africanus, or “southern ape of Africa.
Who is Donald Johanson and what did he discover.
is best known for his 1974 groundbreaking discovery of the 3.2 million- year-old skeleton known as Lucy. aka Australopithecus afarensis
What did the Leaky’s discover
Kenyapithecus, another link between apes and early man that lived about 14 million years ago.
Who is Turkana boy
A homo erectus that allowed scientists to find out a lot of information about body size, body shape, and growth rates of Homo erectus. This skeleton is 40% complete,
What is olduvai gorge
In tanzania, Olduvai Gorge is an important paleoanthropological site that has the oldest evidence of human evolution. Paleoanthropologists have discovered hundreds of fossilized bones and stone tool at the site that dates back to millions of years, leading to the conclusion that Africa was the place for human evolution
What does homo habilis
Handy man
Who is Richard lee and what is he associated with
- Canadian ethnographer
- Studying the Dobe Ju/’hoansi in 1960
- “insult the meat”
What is DIASPORA
populations that share a similar origin (location) but are located in various places around the world (ethnic communities).
How do ethnologist study a culture
Through participant observation. in some cases living with a group and participating in their culture, while taking extensive notes.
What is functionalism
- all of the parts of a community contribute to the overall functioning of the whole culture.
What is an ethnic group
a community of people who share a common culture or background.
Who is considered “the Father of American Anthropology”
Franz Boas
What is cultural relativism
Cultural relativism refers to not judging a culture to our own standards of what is right or wrong, strange or normal. Instead, we should try to understand cultural practices of other groups in its own cultural context.
