Physical anthropology

Physical anthropology (also known as biological anthropology) is a scientific discipline concerned with the biological and behavioral aspects of human beings, their extinct hominin ancestors, and related non-human primates, particularly from an evolutionary perspective. This involves the study of human biology, including cultural aspects; evolution of humans and primates; and human variability and adaptation. The study of physical anthropology is broad and includes many different areas such as paleoanthropology, primatology, human biology, and bioarchaeology.

History

The history of physical anthropology is characterized by several theories and schools of thought. The discipline emerged in the 19th century, during a time when scientific racism was a common theory in the study of human diversity. In the 20th century, the discipline began to shift towards a more holistic approach to understanding human evolution.

Branches

Physical anthropology is divided into various branches, each focusing on a specific aspect of human evolution and diversity. These branches include:

• Paleoanthropology: The study of human evolution, particularly as evidenced by the fossil record.
• Primatology: The study of non-human primates, their behavior, and their genetic and evolutionary relationships with humans.
• Human biology: The study of human biology within the framework of evolution and its relation to physical adaptation.
• Bioarchaeology: The study of human remains from archaeological sites to understand past human health, diet, and lifestyle.

Methods

Physical anthropologists use a variety of methods to study human evolution and diversity. These include the study of human and primate fossils, the analysis of human and primate genetics, and the observation of living primates.

See also

• Anthropology
• Cultural anthropology
• Archaeology
• Linguistic anthropology

External links

• American Association of Physical Anthropologists
• Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Physical anthropology Resources
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