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Evolution

1) Define evolution
Charles Darwin proposed Evolution to be defined as the idea or scientific theory. Darwin believed that all species changed and evolved by natural selection from the same common ancestors. Evolution simply means that a species undergoes genetic change over time. Over many generations a species can evolve into something different. These changes take place because of changes in DNA, which originated as mutations. Not all species evolve at the same rate. The theory of evolution does not prove that species will constantly evolve or how fast the species will change when it does (Park, 2008). 2) Discuss what evolution is in terms of physical anthropology.
Evolution refers to "change over time". In terms of physical anthropology, evolution is changes over time in living organisms. This means that living things have passed their traits from one generation to the next. There are very little changes that occur with each generation, but over time these changes accumulate in each living organism. It is believed that all life on Earth has common ancestry that lived more than 3.5 billions of years ago (Park, 2008).

Discuss how physical anthropologists examine/investigate evolution
Paleoanthropology is a branch of paleontology that falls under physical anthropology. Paleoanthropologists study extinct primates and fossils. They use these examinations to further investigate the evolution of humans. They examine ancient humans, like the anthropoids. Anthropoids are considered humans closest relative and have been linked to human evolution (Coyne, 2009). 3) Find at least one outside source related to your answer for Question 2 (e.g. the genome project for DNA). Conduct original research, do not use the genome project because that example is given in class. Describe the source and how it connects physical anthropology with the study of evolution.
Human biologists study living humans, examining how biology, culture, and environment interact. Paleoanthropologists study hominid ancestors, examining fossilized bones and teeth to assess how each species fits into our family tree.
Primatologists study non-human primate biology and behavior, providing insight into our evolutionary past.
Forensic anthropologists comprise a specialized group that works to identify individuals from their skeletal remains. 4) Choose a second subfield of anthropology (cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, or archaeology).
Archaeology
5) Discuss how an anthropologist in this second subfield studies evolution. *Remember, evolution can apply to both physical and societal changes, so things like language and customs can evolve just as much as bodies and brains can.
In terms of Archaeology anthropology, evolution study is through the physical remains of human past activities. Meaning both portable artifacts and plant remains illuminates human history. These portable artifacts, features include remains of buildings and structures and remains of animals and plants (eco facts).The archaeologist reconstructs past lifeways, constructs past cultures and societies histories and interprets and explain human past. There are several types, prehistorical archaeology which focuses on time period extending from the first traces of hominid behavior through more than a million years of cultural evolution until the emergence of recorded data, historical archaeology, and these focuses on the modern world of the last 500 years (Rhodes, D. 2010). 6) Discuss how an anthropologist from your chosen subfield examines/investigates evolution (e.g. an archaeologist may look at how tools have changed through time and what has caused that change).
Archaeologists examine cultures of past societies through examination of the material remains and left behind artifacts. Therefore archaeologists can determine population size, technology, diet, status differences and a variety of other aspects of daily life .Archaeologist reconstructs past cultural systems out of specific pieces of data and analyses. They further investigate further specific situations; example is a very ancient stone tool manufacture. They examine the techniques by producing replicas and establishing the use of the tool by seeing how similar looking tools are used in the existing or recent societies. Hence they can reconstruct events from several hundred years, to2000, to 2 million years ago.
7) Find at least one outside source related to your answer for Question 6. Conduct original research, do not use tool evolution because that example is given in class. Describe the source and how it connects your second subfield of anthropology with the study of evolution.
Archaeologists were able to study evolution by examining the ancient used techniques. (A study done by Sir Mortimer Wheeler one of the most famous of early old world archaeologists).He did these by using the techniques of archaeological analysis and some basic information from early Roman writings, he reconstructed, in amazing detail, a battle that took place around a.d. 47. In that battle, the Roman commander (and later emperor) Vespasian attacked and conquered a Celtic hill fort now called Maiden Castle. In southern England Wheeler found such evidence as iron Roman arrowheads clustered on the eastern side of the fort. He could tell the order of events by the stratigraphy of the artifacts and other features. For example, the graves were clearly dug through the ashes of the burned huts. The skeletons in the graves were not found in any particular position or orientation, and grave goods varied, indicating hurried burials. The bodies showed signs of the wounds that killed them. The brutal nature of the multiple wounds led Wheeler to use the term massacre. Finally, it was clear that at least one stone wall was pulled down when the people abandoned the site, sometime in the 60s of the first century a.d., since the remains of that wall are on top of the other features and even block one of the roads built sometime after the battle. So, using knowledge of such things as stratigraphic relationships, weapon types, architecture, technology, forensic anthropology, and some pottery types and Roman coins, Wheeler was able to paint an amazingly clear and detailed picture not only of the way of life of the people of Maiden Castle but also of a particular event that took place nearly 2,000 years ago (Kottak, C. 2013).
8) Discuss how the study of evolution between physical anthropology and your chosen subfield compare and contrast. Comparison * Both are subfields of anthropology. * Both study evolution by examining ancient techniques/activities.
Contrast
Physical anthropology studies evolution as changes over time in living organisms whereas archaeology anthropology studies evolution through the physical remains of human past activities.

9) Conclude by discussing one new piece of information you learned about evolution. Evolution is a fact, a theory and a hypothesis. The theory to explain the facts about evolution is far from complete. The importance of mechanisms that contributes to evolution is still under debate. Otherwise hypotheses are still being examined to account how evolution takes place.

References Rhodes, D. (2010). Anthropology: and a hundred other stories. Edinburgh: Canon gate.
Kottak, C. (2013). Anthropology: appreciating human diversity. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Evans, A. (2010). Anthropology at war World War I and the science of race in Germany. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.