Branches of Anthropology

Cultural Anthropology Culture includes knowledge, morals, traditions, arts and customs that we have learned as being part of a society. It is transferred over generations through words and symbols. Cultural anthropologists try to understand the why our culture acts in a certain way. They believe that no tradition or cultural practice is wrong. For example, scarring of the body might seem bizarre to us. However, a study of the culture of the African tribes that follow this ritual has shown that this is a highly relevant practice.

Cultural Anthropology During their research, cultural anthropologists live within a community, observe their customs, and try to understand them in comparison to the practices of other societies. Cultural anthropologists may study a society living on the far end of the globe, or may concentrate on certain segments of our own society. high school students, laborers, or slum dwellers.

Linguistic Anthropology Language is an important agent of transmission of culture. In their efforts to understand where language and oral traditions come from, linguistic anthropologists gain valuable insights into the culture of a community. They understand ancient links between various societies and explore the meaning of language to learn about a culture and how it has evolved.

Archeology Archeology deals with studying the tangible remains of a culture. Fortunately, human beings leave clues about their ways of life, not only in words and alphabets, but also in the form of material remains like pots, foundation of houses, stone tools and burials. These reveal important information about the beliefs and traditions of a particular civilization or community.

Archaeology For example, paintings on walls of tombs may throw light on the status of the person buried there. Such paintings often show practices common in a society. Study of burial sites can help archaeologists understand the religious beliefs of a group of people.

Biological Anthropology Biological anthropology, also known as physical anthropology, deals with tracing the biological origins, evolutionary changes, and the genetic diversity of the human species. In the process, biological anthropologists study primate behavior, and physical variations between primates and human beings in order to understand physical changes that have taken place in humans.

Other Branches Forensic anthropology Medical anthropology Ecological anthropology Although each branch is a specialized field of study, they are inter-related. This gives anthropologists an edge over researchers from other fields in addressing human problems, as they study human existence not in isolation but from many angles.

Branches of Anthropology Poster Project You will create a poster that has information on one of the branches of anthropology. Define the branch. Describe what they do. (1 paragraph) Give an example of what they might study. Have at least 3 relevant photos/images with captions explaining their meaning and relationship to your chosen branch.