Anthropology

The field of Anthropology is a robust and eclectic field of study that covers virtually all aspects of human existence, but focuses on social and cultural development. Its scope extends from the analysis of the oldest fossil records, tools, artifacts and evidences of society and culture to tell us hopefully the complete story of humanity. In recent years, the field has undoubtedly been reshaped as it adapts to the changes in advancements of technology and scientific instruments, which have…

As many concepts in Anthropology have, the concept of Culture has also changed through time. During the early 19th century a prevailing model for cultural evolution was much like the model for human evolution. The thought was cultures become increasingly more complex as they reached particular milestones (Morgan). As more information about past human societies became known, the theories and concepts surrounding culture changed. The concepts of culture and culture changed shifted from an…

determination, different methods have been used in biological anthropology including morphological, statistical, and metric analysis. Each of these sections subsections and variation of techniques for identifying remains based on the type of remains available and the needs in identifying. Particular types of identification techniques have been used as case studies within this paper based on current discussions…

2. Totemism - Totemism is "special symbolic and spiritual association between a person or a group of persons and a natural phenomenon, individual, or kind" (Heider, 2007, p. 452). This allows for a type of primitive anthropology (Heider, 2007, p. 342) a concept in which humans can relate in a social construct in the natural world. This allows anthropologist to observe and record individual connections to both natural world and spiritual worlds, understanding ones personal or community beliefs…

Ethnographic fieldwork in anthropology is seen as the most important source of new knowledge about society and culture. There is no simple recipe for fieldwork. The overall main aim of fieldwork is to develop as intimate an understanding as possible of the society or culture being studied. Traditionally the aim of fieldwork was to account for the workings of a particular society but not to explain how it emerged. Anthropologists such as Kroeber and Evans-Pritchard have since stressed the…

Anthropology is a fundamental genre of study of peoples in their natural or societal environment. Those who choose to study and observe people can take two approaches to in recording ethnographies; a subject orientated perspective or an outsiders perspective. Due to the individuals moulding as an anthropologist and as a person by society, ethnographies can be clouded by researchers views on subjects as active agents through upbringing, sex and experience. These views can impact in their approach…

field of anthropology, there are two main theoretical perspectives that anthropologists tend to fall into: the idealist and the materialist. The idealists view human beliefs, ideas and values as the most important feature of shaping culture. The materialists, rather than focus on ideas and beliefs of individuals, focus on more material aspects of shaping culture; like advancements in technology and structure. Anthropologists with an idealist perspective consider the study of anthropology…

Part One: Information on human kinds past, present, and future have always been important for us to try and understand why we’re here and how we got here. Starting with the past, anthropology is the study of human kind, as well as the study of evolution. This is the discipline that is responsible for finding Lucy, our oldest known ancestor, and actually, the social scientist that found Lucy was Mary Leakey, the wife of Louis Leakey, who was also a social scientist, and as a result they made…

Race in Anthropology The issue in this debate is whether there is a biological factor for races or is there an environmental construction for race. The issue of race is important in our society and in history of the United States there has always been racial conflicts and discrimination. This issue is still relevant today as minorities are still fights discrimination and racial hatred from the prejudice. Racial hatred groups exist in society to prove dominance over other racial groups. Racism…

relativism. Is it possible to understand the values and worldview of another culture(s) and not accept all of their practices and standards? Does adopting an ethical relativist viewpoint present a problem such as ethnocentrism? Cultural Relativism in Anthropology theorizes the way people act, behave and perceive things relative to their cultures. One must understand the culture in order to understand certain actions or customs (Debra Kraft). Anthropologist use this concept when studying…