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Examining Evolution from Two Subfields in Anthropology

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Examining Evolution from Two Subfields in Anthropology

ANTH 101
Professor Rosh
March 25, 2012 Evolution overall is the change and adaptation of all living things on this planet. In the past this idea was thought to be absurd and still in today’s society some people still don’t believe in the theory of evolution. Thanks to a man named Charles Darwin who was brave and smart enough to publish scientific books on this subject some of our society now accepts the concept and studies it. To think that living species does not change and adapt over time is nonsense. With the study of evolution humankind can learn from its past and better prepare for the future by studying how humankind has developed over the past. Evolution is defined in biology as the idea that all species can change over time and have a common ancestry (Parker, 2008). A physical anthropologist could study primatology in order to study evolution for humankind. Primatology is the study in physical anthropology that began with morphological comparisons of primates to reconstruct the evolution of humans (Rodman, 1999). Studying primatology can help the study of evolution because it is a very good example of basic evolution and primates and human beings have a lot of similar traits and also the primate is the closest living example that is like a human genetically. This source was chosen because it helps break down the meaning and understanding of primatology and provides the basics and in depth terms to help any reader understand primatology. Another field in anthropology that studies evolution is called archaeology anthropology. The archaeologist in this subfield of anthropology can study evolution is by searching for understanding fossils and tools. By studying fossils the archaeologist can look at certain aspects of the specimen and compare it to specimens that are still living today. For example when an archaeology anthropologist finds and studies a fossil that used to belong to a bird that lived over a million years ago the archaeology anthropologist could compare it bodily features to certain birds that are living in today’s time and see what has changed. With looking at old tools from old civilizations an archaeology anthropologist would compare the tools that were found to the tool that we use today. With this research they can see the differences and tell how our society has changed over time and be able to possibly picture what the society was like for the person who use to use the discovered tools. An archaeology anthropologist work could help out with primatology by studying the fossils and remains of primates and closely compare them to the remains and fossils of humans. An American anthropologist named Harris Hawthorne Wilder studied primate patterns of epidermal ridges on the hands and feet (Buikstra, J. E., King, J. L., & Nystrom, K. C. 2003). With this study Wilder was able to understand the dermatoglyphic pattern on the hands and feet in assessing human ancestry which also helped out the study of personal identification. This source helps by helping to understand how archaeology anthropologist work can be related to a physical anthropologist field of work. Both types of anthropologists helps the study of evolution by closely studying past specimens and societies whether it be from digging up fossils to looking at and studying old pottery with pictures on it. Both fields help people learn where and how our world has evolved. Though these fields have a lot in common they also have some differences between them. With archaeology anthropologists they can tend to focus on prehistoric cultures and a physical anthropologist will look at the past cultures but also look at the present ones. Also an archaeology anthropologist will study animals and all types of cultures when the physical anthropologist mainly focuses on the evolution on humans. One new piece of information concerning evolution is that the study of primatology has two components. The two components are paleoprimatology and the study of behavior and ecology of living primates. The purpose of primatology in anthropology is to elucidate human origins and the origins of human nature using morphological and behavioral comparisons among living nonhuman primates, fossil primates, and humans (Buikstra, J. E., King, J. L., & Nystrom, K. C. 2003). Paleoprimatology purpose is to help uncover the understand the fossil record of primate evolution. The second part of primatology is to study material that is most relevant to understanding the history of human origins rather than study multiple avenues of research on human origins. Before this paper I only thought archaeology was about digging for old artifacts and fossils. Now I know there is a lot more to being an archaeologist.

References Buikstra, J. E., King, J. L., & Nystrom, K. C. (2003). Forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology in the american anthropologist: Rare but exquisite gems. American Anthropologist, 105(1), 38-52. http://search.proquest.com/docview/198084037?accountid=8289
Park, M. (2008). Introducing anthropology: An integrated approach, with PowerWeb. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Rodman, P. S. (1999). Whither primatology? the place of primates in contemporary anthropology. Annual Review of Anthropology, 28(00846570), 311-339. http://search.proquest.com/docview/199793314?accountid=8289

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