ARCH 112 Study Guide - Winter 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Bone, Hominini, Hunter-Gatherer
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
ARCH 112
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
Archeology 112
Lecture 1
Anthropology
• The study of humanity
• Anthropology is holistic in its approach
• Studies human culture and evolutionary aspects of human biology.
The Subfields of Anthropology
• Cultural Anthropology
• Linguistics
• Archaeology
• Biological Anthropology
The two subfields that this class will focus on are archaeology and biological anthropology
Archaeology
• The study of the human past through the examination of its material remains.
• Archaeologists and paleoanthropologists study humans and human ancestors
• Palaeontologists study other extinct animals
Biological (Physical) Anthropology
• Focuses on humans as biological organisms, examining human evolution and modern human
variation.
• Emphasis on the interaction between biology and culture.
Some Specialties within Biological Anthropology
• Paleoanthropology: the study of human evolution
• Osteology: the study of the skeleton
• Primatology: the study of nonhuman primates, our closest living relatives
Culture
• All aspects of human adaptation, including technology, traditions, language, religion, and social
roles.
• Trasitted through learig ad ot iologial or geeti eas.
Lecture 2
Historical Development of the Discipline of Archaeology - Important developments include:
• Establishing the antiquity of the earth
• Establishing the antiquity of humankind
• Development of a theory of evolution
Earliest Historic Accounts of Excavations
• Many early explanations of ancient artifacts were unscientific
Antiquarians : Someone who is interested in the past and digs up antiquities unscientifically
Eventually some individuals recognized the value of scientific analysis of artifacts and
archaeological sites.
Christian Jürgenson Thomsen (1788-1865)
• Developed Three Age System
– Iron Age
– Bronze Age
– Stone Age
– Jens Worsaae tested system
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
• Completed one of the earliest archaeological excavations in North America.
Establishing the Antiquity of Earth
• Universe 15 billion years old
• Earth 4.5 billion years old
• Cosmic Calendar – devised by astronomer Carl Sagan demonstrates the relatively recent
appearance of humankind
Document Summary
Anthropology: the study of humanity, anthropology is holistic in its approach, studies human culture and evolutionary aspects of human biology. The subfields of anthropology: cultural anthropology, linguistics, archaeology, biological anthropology. The two subfields that this class will focus on are archaeology and biological anthropology. Archaeology: the study of the human past through the examination of its material remains, archaeologists and paleoanthropologists study humans and human ancestors, palaeontologists study other extinct animals. Biological (physical) anthropology: focuses on humans as biological organisms, examining human evolution and modern human variation, emphasis on the interaction between biology and culture. Some specialties within biological anthropology: paleoanthropology: the study of human evolution, osteology: the study of the skeleton, primatology: the study of nonhuman primates, our closest living relatives. Culture: all aspects of human adaptation, including technology, traditions, language, religion, and social roles, tra(cid:374)s(cid:373)itted through lear(cid:374)i(cid:374)g a(cid:374)d (cid:374)ot (cid:271)(cid:455) (cid:271)iologi(cid:272)al or ge(cid:374)eti(cid:272) (cid:373)ea(cid:374)s.
