Physical Physical AnthropologyAnthropology

What is Anthropology?What is Anthropology?

Anthropology is the study of human Anthropology is the study of human life throughout history.life throughout history.

It aims to describe what it means to It aims to describe what it means to be human.be human.

Two MAJOR Branches Two MAJOR Branches of Anthropologyof Anthropology

PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGYPHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

……tries to understand and define the tries to understand and define the physical and biological nature of human physical and biological nature of human beings.beings.

Two MAJOR Branches Two MAJOR Branches of Anthropologyof Anthropology

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGYCULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

……studies human beings in different studies human beings in different cultural settings around the world.cultural settings around the world.

What is Physical What is Physical Anthropology?Anthropology?

Studies humans as biological organisms and Studies humans as biological organisms and tries to differentiate humans from other species.tries to differentiate humans from other species.

Some anthropologists trace the Some anthropologists trace the origins of origins of humanshumans, while others study , while others study biological similarities biological similarities and differencesand differences among humans today. among humans today.

Physical anthropologists use the research of natural Physical anthropologists use the research of natural (physical) sciences more than any other social (physical) sciences more than any other social science.science.– Includes working with fossils, examining and testing artifacts, Includes working with fossils, examining and testing artifacts,

and working with other evidence/remnants of human life.and working with other evidence/remnants of human life.– Can also include measuring, recording, and comparing Can also include measuring, recording, and comparing

physical information about physical information about livingliving humans. humans.

Charles DarwinCharles Darwin

Physical anthropology has its roots Physical anthropology has its roots in the theories of Charles Darwin in the theories of Charles Darwin – Published his theory of evolution in Published his theory of evolution in

“On the Origin of Species” in 1859.“On the Origin of Species” in 1859. Darwin proposed that no two Darwin proposed that no two

members of a species are members of a species are exactlyexactly alike due to differences / variations alike due to differences / variations caused by biological inheritance caused by biological inheritance and adaptation to the environment.and adaptation to the environment.

Darwin theorized that members of a Darwin theorized that members of a species that survive will pass on their species that survive will pass on their unique characteristics to their unique characteristics to their offspring.offspring.

This is known as “natural selection.”This is known as “natural selection.” Darwin concluded that the similarities Darwin concluded that the similarities

found in humans must mean that we found in humans must mean that we all originate from a common ancestor. all originate from a common ancestor.

Important Findings in Important Findings in Physical AnthropologyPhysical Anthropology

In 1924, Raymond Dart found a species of In 1924, Raymond Dart found a species of human who lived up to 3 million years ago in human who lived up to 3 million years ago in South Africa (was a skull and fossilized brain)South Africa (was a skull and fossilized brain)– The skull had many human traits but the brain The skull had many human traits but the brain

was near the size of a primate’s.was near the size of a primate’s.– This species was named This species was named australopithecus australopithecus

africanusafricanus..

australopithecus australopithecus africanusafricanus

australopithecus australopithecus africanusafricanus

Important FindingsImportant Findings

In 1959, Mary and Louis Leakey In 1959, Mary and Louis Leakey found evidence at Olduvai Gorge in found evidence at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania that confirmed the earliest Tanzania that confirmed the earliest human beings had lived in Africa.human beings had lived in Africa.

The Olduvai Gorge The Olduvai Gorge – “The Cradle of – “The Cradle of

Mankind”Mankind”

Important FindingsImportant Findings

In 1974 Donald Johanson found In 1974 Donald Johanson found 40% of a skeleton of a early 40% of a skeleton of a early human human

in Ethiopia. He named the in Ethiopia. He named the

skeleton ‘Lucy’ after a skeleton ‘Lucy’ after a

popular Beatles song.popular Beatles song.

““Lucy”Lucy”

How are Humans How are Humans Different From Other Different From Other

Species?Species? Humans belong to the biological group called Humans belong to the biological group called

“primates” (the highest order of mammals). “primates” (the highest order of mammals). We are not direct descendants of We are not direct descendants of

chimpanzees or gorillas, but we may have a chimpanzees or gorillas, but we may have a common ancestor.common ancestor.

The genetic make-up between The genetic make-up between humans and primates only differs humans and primates only differs by 1 or 2 percent.by 1 or 2 percent.

We share many physical and social We share many physical and social characteristics – this is why we characteristics – this is why we look to primates for clues that may look to primates for clues that may shed light on the evolution of shed light on the evolution of humans and human behaviour.humans and human behaviour.

SIMILARITIESSIMILARITIES

– Opposable thumbs Opposable thumbs – Binocular vision Binocular vision – A highly developed brain A highly developed brain

with the capacity to with the capacity to learn learn

– Children are dependant Children are dependant longer on their parents longer on their parents

– Both are social creaturesBoth are social creatures– Have a capacity for Have a capacity for

aggression and defence aggression and defence of territoryof territory

DIFFERENCESDIFFERENCES

- BipedalismBipedalism- Capacity to Capacity to

communicate complex communicate complex and abstract ideas and abstract ideas through languagethrough language- Many anthropologists Many anthropologists

believe language is believe language is what finally separates what finally separates us from all other us from all other species and has helped species and has helped us survive and prosper.us survive and prosper.

How did Humans How did Humans Become Human? Become Human?

There is much debate surrounding human There is much debate surrounding human evolution.evolution.– Some say that aggressive and warlike traits Some say that aggressive and warlike traits

encouraged early humans to develop and use tools encouraged early humans to develop and use tools and to develop and use language.and to develop and use language.

Others believe that our social skills and ability Others believe that our social skills and ability to get along in groups was critical in to get along in groups was critical in developing our thinking skillsdeveloping our thinking skills– Living in social groups requires memory, ability to Living in social groups requires memory, ability to

recognize others and learn from others, and the recognize others and learn from others, and the ability draw upon that knowledge. ability draw upon that knowledge.

– Jane LancasterJane Lancaster