chapter 1: introduction to physical anthropology Flashcards
savanna (or savannah)
a large flat grassland with scattered trees and shrubs; found in many regions of the world with dry and warm-to-hot climates
hominins
colloquial term for members of the evolutionary group that includes modern humans and all extinct bipedal relatives
species
a group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring; members of one species are reproductively isolated from members of all other species (they cannot mate with them to produce fertile offspring)
bipedally
one two feet; walking habitually on two legs
anthropology
the field of inquiry that studies human culture and evolutionary aspects of human biology; includes cultural, archaeology, linguistics, and physical (or biological) subfields
primates
members of the mammalian order primates, which includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans
evolution
a change in the genetic structure of a population; also frequently used to refer to the appearance
adaptation
an anatomical, physiological, or behavioral response of organisms or populations to the environment; result from evolutionary change (specifically, as a result of natural selection)
genetic
having to do with the study of gene structure and action and the patterns of inheritance of traits from parent to offspring; genetic mechanisms are the foundation for evolutionary change
behavior
anything organisms do that involves action in response to internal or external stimuli; the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment; such responses may or may not be deliberate, and they aren’t necessarily the result of conscious decision making (which is absent in single-celled organisms, insects, and many other species)
continuum
a set of relationships in which all components fall along a single integrated spectrum (ex: color); all life reflects a single biological one
culture
behavioral aspects of human adaptation, including technology, traditions, language, religions, marriage patterns, and social roles; a set of learned behaviors transmitted from one generation to the next by nonbiological (nongenetic) means
worldview
general cultural orientation or perspective shared by members of a society
biocultural evolution
the mutual, interactive evolution of human biology and culture; the concept that biology makes culture possible and that developing culture further influences the direction of biological evolution; a basic concept is understanding the unique components of human evolution
applied anthropology
the practical application of anthropological and archaeological theories and techniques; ex: many biological anthropologists work in the public health sector
ethnographies
detailed descriptive studies of human societies; in cultural anthropology, it is traditionally the study of a non-western society
artifacts
objects or materials made or modified for use by hominins; earliest ones are usually tools made of stone or, occasionally, bone
paleoanthropology
the interdisciplinary approach to the study of earlier hominins - their chronology, physical structure, archaeological remains, habitats, etc.
dna
deoxyribonucleic acid; the double strand molecule that contains the genetic code; a main component of chromosomes
osteology
the study of skeletal material; in humans, focuses on the interpretation of the skeletal remains from archaeological sites, skeletal anatomy, bone physiology, and growth and development
bioarcheology
the study of human skeletal remains and their archaeological contexts
paleopathology
the branch of osteology that studies the evidence of disease and injury in human skeletal (or, occasionally, mummified) remains from archaeological sites
forensic anthropology
an applied anthropological approach focused on the application of osteology and archaeology to legal matters; specialized anthropologists work with coroners and others in identifying and analyzing human remains
primatology
the study of biology and behavior of nonhuman primates (lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes)
science
a body of knowledge gained through observation and experimentation; from latin scientia, meaning “knowledge”
hypotheses/hypothesis
provisional explanations of phenomena; requires verification or falsification through testing
empirical
relying on experiment or observation; from latin empiricus, meaning “experienced”
scientific method
an approach to research whereby a problem is identified, a hypothesis (provisional explanation) is states, and that hypothesis is tested by collecting and analyzing data
data/datum
facts from which conclusions can be drawn; scientific information
quantitatively
pertaining to measurements of quantity and including such properties as size, number, and capacity; when data are quantified, they’re expressed numerically and can be tested scientifically
theory
a broad statement of scientific relationships or underlying principles that has been substantially verified through the testing of hypotheses
scientific testing
the precise repetition of an experiment or expansion of observed data to provide verification; the procedure by which hypotheses and theories are verified, modified, or discarded
quadrupedal
using all four limbs to support the body during locomotion; the basic mammalian (and primate) form of locomotion
ethnocentric
viewing other cultures from the inherently biased perspectives of one’s own culture; often results in other cultures being seen as inferior to one’s own
relativistic
viewing entities as they relate to something else; culturally, it is the view that cultures have merits within their own historical and environmental contexts
