# Introduction to Paleoanthropology/Definition


understand that it is a subdiscipline of
anthropology and have a basic understanding
of archaeology dating techniques, evolution of cultures, Darwinian
thought, genetics, and primate behaviours.

\_\_toc\_\_ There is a long academic tradition in modern anthropology
which is divided into four fields, as defined by Franz Boas (1858-1942),
who is generally considered the father of the Anthropology in the United
States of America. The study of anthropology falls into four main
fields:

1.  Sociocultural anthropology
2.  Linguistic anthropology
3.  Archaeology
4.  Physical anthropology

Although these disciplines are separate, they share common goals. All
forms of anthropology focus on the following:

-   Diversity of human cultures observed in past and present.
-   Human beings in all of their biological, social, and cultural
    complexity.
-   Many other disciplines in the social sciences, natural sciences, and
    even humanities are involved in study of human cultures.
    -   Examples include: Psychology, geography, sociology, political
        science, economics, biology, genetics, history and even art and
        literature.

## Sociocultural anthropology/ethnology

This field can trace its roots to processes of European colonization and
globalization, when European trade with other parts of the world and
eventual political control of overseas territories offered scholars
access to different cultures. Anthropology was the scientific discipline
that searches to understand human diversity, both culturally and
biologically. Originally anthropology focused on understanding groups of
people then considered \"primitive\" or \"simple\" whereas sociology
focused on modern urban societies in Europe and North America although
more recently cultural anthropology looks at all cultures around the
world, including those in developed countries. Over the years,
sociocultural anthropology has influenced other disciplines like urban
studies, gender studies, ethnic studies and has developed a number of
sub-disciplines like medical anthropology, political anthropology,
environmental anthropology, applied anthropology, psychological
anthropology, economic anthropology and others have developed.

## Linguistic anthropology

!Franz Boas is considered to be the founder of modern
anthropology.
This study of human speech and languages includes their structure,
origins and diversity. It focuses on comparison between contemporary
languages, identification of language families and past relationships
between human groups. It looks at:

-   Relationship between language and culture
-   Use of language in perception of various cultural and natural
    phenomena
-   Process of language acquisition, a phenomenon that is uniquely
    human, as well as the cognitive, cultural, and biological aspects
    involved in the process.
-   Through historical linguistics we can trace the migration trails of
    large groups of people (be it initiated by choice, by natural
    disasters, by social and political pressures). In reverse, we can
    trace movement and establish the impact of the political, social and
    physical pressures, by looking at where and when the changes in
    linguistic usage occurred.

## Archaeology

Is the study of past cultures through an analysis of artifacts, or
materials left behind gathered through excavation. This is in contrast
to history, which studies past cultures though an analysis of written
records left behind. Archaeology can thus examine the past of cultures
or social classes that had no written history. Historical archaeology
can be informed by historical information although the different methods
of gathering information mean that historians and archaeologists are
often asking and answering very different kinds of questions. It should
be noted that recovery and analysis of material remains is only one
window to view the reconstruction of past human societies, including
their economic systems, religious beliefs, and social and political
organization. Archaeological studies are based on:

-   A specific methodology to recover material remains including
    excavation techniques, stratigraphy, chronology, and dating
    techniques
-   Animal bones, plant remains, human bones, stone tools, pottery,
    structures (architecture, pits, hearths).

## Physical anthropology

Is the study of human biological variation within the framework of
evolution, with a strong emphasis on the interaction between biology and
culture. Physical anthropology has several subfields:

-   Paleoanthropology
-   Osteometry/osteology
-   Forensic anthropology
-   Primatology
-   Biological variation in living human populations
-   Bioarchaeology/paleopathology

### Paleoanthropology

As a subdiscipline of physical anthropology that focuses on the fossil
record of humans and non-human primates. This field relies on the
following:

Understanding Human Evolution:

Evolution of hominids from other primates starting around 8 million to 6
million years ago. This information is gained from fossil record of
primates, genetics analysis of humans and other surviving primate
species, and the history of changing climate and environments in which
these species evolved.

Importance of physical anthropology

Evidence of hominid activity between 8 and 2.5 million years ago usually
only consists of bone remains available for study. Because of this very
incomplete picture of the time period from the fossil record, various
aspects of physical anthropology (osteometry, functional anatomy,
evolutionary framework) are essential to explain evolution during these
first millions of years. Evolution during this time is considered as the
result of natural forces only.

Importance of related disciplines

Paleoanthropologists need to be well-versed in other scientific
disciplines and methods, including ecology, biology, anatomy, genetics,
and primatology. Through several million years of evolution, humans
eventually became a unique species. This process is similar to the
evolution of other animals that are adapted to specific environments or
\"ecological niches\". Animals adapted to niches usually play a
specialized part in their ecosystem and rely on a specialized diet.

Humans are different in many ways from other animals. Since 2.5 million
years ago, several breakthroughs have occurred in human evolution,
including dietary habits, technological aptitude, and economic
revolutions. Humans also showed signs of early migration to new
ecological niches and developed new subsistence activities based on new
stone tool technologies and the use of fire. Because of this, the
concept of an ecological niche does not always apply to humans any more.

## Summary

The following topics were covered:

-   Introduced field of physical anthropology;
-   Physical anthropology: study of human biology, non-human primates,
    and hominid fossil record;
-   Placed paleoanthropology within overall context of anthropological
    studies (along with cultural anthropology, linguistics, and
    archaeology);

Further modules in this series will focus on physical anthropology and
be oriented toward understanding of the natural and cultural factors
involved in the evolution of the first hominids.

