Physical Anthropology
the study of the evolution, variation and adaptation of humans and their past and present relatives
Honing canine
Shed plant material
Which of the following are the six key attributes that make humans unique among primates?
Bipedalism
nonhoning chewing
complex material culture and tool use
speech
hunting
dependence on domesticated foods
How do physical anthropologists know what they know?
1) Observation
2) Hypothesis
3) Predictions - Predictions come after a hypothesis because they are more specific.
4) Test- This is the last step in the scientific method, where the hypothesis is either accepted or rejected. However, it is important to rem
What did Charles Darwin hypothesize about the origin of bipedalism?
It was caused by the shift from life in the trees to life on the ground (Darwin based his hypothesis on the anatomical differences between bipedal humans and quadrupedal apes, the latter presumably spending more time in rain forests than in open country.
Which of the following things do physical anthropologists study?
Genetic history- Physical anthropologists definitely study the genetic history of individuals and populations. As you will learn in later chapters, this genetic history is central to understanding how evolution takes place.
The origins of language and spe
Science is limited to the knowledge of facts about the natural world.
False
The physical appearance of hominins and their descendants, including modern humans, has not changed over the past 6-8 million years.
false
A central focus of research at the Body Farm concerns decomposition, which is mainly comprised of two processes: autolysis and putrefaction. Identify which of the following are characteristics of autolysis, putrefaction, or both.
Putrefaction- breakdown of tissues by microorganisms
Autolysis- breakdown of cells within the high-carbon-dioxide environment of the body
both- breakdown of tissues by microorganisms (The rate of decomposition varies widely depending on the temperature, h
Physical anthropology is the study of........ evolution and.......... variation
human biological
human biocultural
These are the two key concepts that underlie the definition of physical anthropology. Although the study of other primates can (and does) allow scientists to learn about human biological evolution and human biocultural v
Human brains are...... and have more ........ analytical skills than the brains of other animals.
bigger
complex
These biological adaptations enable us to figure out complex problems, including how to survive in a wide range of environments.
Place the following hypotheses about bipedalism in chronological order of when they were proposed.
1) Bipedalism is linked to the shift form life in the trees to life on the ground
2)The first hominins arose in the open grasslands of Africa from some apelike animal that was formerly arboreal (This was an addendum to Darwin's original hypothesis about b
Which of the following are subjects of scientific laws?
gravity
motion
theromodynamics
Determine whether the following examples are primarily biological science or social science.
A physical anthropologist conducts interviews about how individuals in a family divide up food for each meal.
Correct label:
social science
A physical anthropologist asks her study subjects to report how they breast feed their babies.
Correct label:
socia
A scientific ........... does not address larger questions about why a natural action takes place.
law
Why did our ancestors' honing canine disappear?
They developed the ability to make and use tools for processing food
Darwin's theory regarding the origin of bipedalism was ultimately accepted and remains central to our thinking about human evolution today.
false
Forensic anthropology is the scientific examination of skeletons in hope of identifying who they were in life. To which of the following subdisciplines does forensic anthropology belong?
physical anthropology
Your biological makeup is strongly influenced by your environment. What does environment refer to in this context? (Select all that apply.)
the climate you live in
the diseases you are exposed to
the type of food that is grown where you live
the day-to-day physical activities you have to engage in
how much money your family has for purchasing resources
What makes human learning particularly unique?
Humans pass information and culture from generation to generation.
What did Franz Boas contribute to the field of anthropology?
laid the foundation (Boas taught direct observation and attention to detail when studying past and living peoples. This focus on the scientific method is the basis for the discipline of anthropology today.)
Boas trained the first generation of American ac
Why is the research done at the University of Tennessee's Anthropological Research Facility important?
The research assists law enforcement officials with murder investigations.
The research assists bioarchaeologists, who study ancient remains.
The research fills a void in anthropological knowledge.
Anthropology is the study of past peoples and cultures.
false
What do physical anthropologists call the taxonomic group that includes humans and humanlike ancestors, excluding living nonhuman primates?
hominins
What do scientists call the evidence that they gather?
data
Human beings are the only animal that has or can employ material culture.
false
What does it mean to say that science is empirical?
based on evidence
Which of the following are examples of anthropological pursuits?
15th- and 16th-century European explorers documenting how people from other continents looked, talked, dressed, and behaved
modern-day scientists digging up skeletal remains dating from the 1500s and 1600s at Mission Santa Catalina de Guale
modern-day sci