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Physical anthropology, also known as biological anthropology, is the social science dedicated to studying human beings from biological and behavioural perspectives. Physical anthropologists study human beings and human behaviour by examining primates and extinct hominin ancestors and determing how we, as a species, have adapted to our environment and have evolved into who we are today.

 

 

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Physical anthropologists learn about how species have survived, how they have adapted, and how they have become extinct. These are all questions physical anthropologists have about our own human biology and human behaviour.

 

There are many subfields of physical anthropology. Each subfield approaches the study of human biology and human behaviour from a different perspective. As you learn more about each subfield, try to determine how each perspective helps us to understand the human species.

In this photograph, an anthropologist is using tools to reveal and remove the skeleton that is half uncovered in the earth below her.

Paleoanthropologists study human evolution through the study of fossilized remains.  The main research method is archaeological excavations where they find and study artefacts, fossils, and human remains that reveal information about our evolution as a species. They can date artefacts through relative dating(definition:establish a time frame relative to other artifacts found.), absolute dating(definition:measuring the amount of carbon present in a dead plant or animal, or measuring the breakdown of potassium into argon gas.) and through dendrochronology(definition:examining the rings in a cross-section of a tree trunk.). Part of their study is about the measurement and proportions of the human body or anthropometry. They may also use aerial photos or satellite images to reveal bigger pictures of a site, like the one below of one of the Nazca lines in Peru.

This is an aerial photograph from Peru of what is called the Nazca lines. These are lines that are apparent only from far above the landscape. This particular Nazca line outlines what is called a hummingbird shape.

Think About It...

Which influential anthropologists have you already discovered who are immersed in this type of anthropological study? How does the study of our evolution help us understand ourselves now and into the future?

 
This is a photograph of a gorilla mother with a baby gorilla on her back. They are in the forest.

Primatologists study primates in a quest to understand human biology and human behaviour. Primates, such as monkeys, apes, gorillas, and chimpanzees, are mammals that have hands, hand-like feet, forward-facing eyes, and are largely tree-dwellers. Researchers in this field may conduct experiments, may immerse themselves as an observer for field work in the natural environment of the primates, or may observe in a semi-free ranging site, where the habitat of the primates is replicated in a more captive setting. They study anatomy, behaviour, social structure, and the genetic evolution of primates in their efforts to understand human biology and behaviour.

This chimpanzee has a very thoughtful expression on his face. He looks into the camera, and has one hand raised towards his face, and one hand resting on his body.

Think About It...

To which influential primatologists have you already been exposed? What were their areas of specialization in primatology? Why do anthropologists study primates when they wish to understand human biology and human behaviour?

Forensic anthropologists apply their anthropological expertise to the study of human remains. The remains might be of a very old specimen or human remains found in a legal setting (ranging from the study of local criminal cases to international cases of war crimes through the excavation of the graves of victims). View the following video to learn more about forensic anthropology. 

 

This is the discussion icon. Subfields of Physical Anthropology

What questions would you ask a physical anthropologist now that you know a little more about the subfields of physical anthropology and the methodologies used in these fields?

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This is the discussion icon. Ethics and Physical Anthropology

Physical anthropology has its own set of ethical considerations for studying and reporting on findings. Complete a Google search to identify what some of these ethical considerations might be. You might consider ethical considerations related to:

  • race; 
  • ethnocentric(definition:evaluating other peoples and cultures according to the standards of one's own culture.) views; 
  • political agenda;
  • religious belief; 
  • privacy and respect for the individual;
  • personal profit versus contributing to a broader understanding of the human species;
  • etc. 
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“

As a species, we are held captive by the only planet we know that can sustain life…. If we have learned anything at all from our history, it must be that, in the end, life prevails and ultimately will be the victor on the miracle planet.

~ From Miracle Planet: Survival of the Fittest

This is the dropbox icon. Miracle Planet: Survival of the Fittest

What do you think is meant by this quotation? How might it relate specifically to physical anthropology? As you view the two videos, Miracle Planet Episode 5: Survival of the Fittest, take notes in relation to the following topics as they relate to our evolution as a human species. You will be choosing one of these topics as a specific focus to examine how we have evolved and to predict how we may evolve further in the future:

  • Importance of climate change;
  • Importance of recognizing facial expressions;
  • Importance of evolution of teeth and diet;
  • Importance of evolution of use of language;
  • Importance of evolution of use of tools;
  • Discovery of multiple human ancestors.

How do you think we will continue to evolve based on this specific focus?

Predict how we will evolve in the future based on this one specific focus, linking to what you have learned about the impact of this specific focus from the video.    

 

 

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This is the discussion icon. Challenges to Human Survival

It is clear in our study of humans that we have survived a great deal in our time on Earth. From an anthropological perspective, what do you think are the biggest challenges that humans will face in surviving the centuries ahead?

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