Literacies & Awareness 1: Anthropology

What is Anthropology?

Anthropology is the systematic study of humanity, with the goal of understanding our evolutionary origins, our distinctiveness as a species, and the great diversity in our forms of social existence across the world and through time.

Subfields of Anthropology

Sociocultural Ant.

Sociocultural Ant. explains culture variations, and studies periods of cultural change and social movement.

Biological Ant.

Biological Ant. investigates fossils and use these observations to understand human evolution; except this, they compare biochemical genetic, morphological, and physiological adaptations of human to the environments they live;

Archeology Ant.

Archaeologists study the material remains of present and past cultural systems to understand the technical, social, and political organization of those systems and cultures.

I will take up Archeology in my upcoming Articles.

Well Known Anthropologists

Franz Boas (1858–1942)

Established the first Anthropology department at Columbia University. Worked on public education, policy, and advocacy. Also, we can say that Franz Boas is the founder of modern Anthropology.

Published the book: Anthropology & Modern Life

Documentary — Franz Boas: The Shackles of Tradition

Margaret Mead(1901–1978)

Known as the biggest anthropologist ever. She published over 20 books and won over 28 awards. She worked on gender roles in society. She lived with New Guinea and Samoa societies for a long time examining their lives closely.

Interview — Margaret Mead: Cultural Anthropology

Recommended Lecture:

Global Problems of Human Population Growth — Yale University Anthropology (The Killing Desire of Human Population)

THE ICEMAN

The Iceman, also known as “Ötzi” is a corpse found in the Alps in 1991. He took the name “Ötzi” because he was found in the Alps Ötztal. The thing that makes this corpse unusual is the age of Ötzi. Ötzi lived over 5,300 years ago and he is the oldest complete human body ever found.

The things he carried:

A copper ax, a stone sword,

thick clothes, and

a fire kit.

These gadgets show that he was a valuable person in his society.

Theories of his death:

Some scientists said that he was a lost shepherd and died cause of cold, others thought that he was killed in a religious ceremony. But these ideas are only predictions. So what is the scientific result? (the real reason)

The real reason:

The real reason for his death was found in mid-2001. An X-ray showed that he was murdered with an arrow and the stone arrow was 6cm inside his shoulder. Also, scientists found 4 other people’s blood on his clothes. But he wasn’t killed in a battle, he was killed while he was resting. So these blood were from an older battle.