BIOLOGICAL
ANTHROPOLOGY
Professor: Susan Guise Sheridan, Ph.D.
Office: 171 Decio Building |
Office phone: 631-7670
E-mail:
sheridan.5@nd.edu |
Class: Anth 405
Credits: 4 |
This course synthesizes aspects of human
biology and cultural anthropology in a holistic (biocultural) view of human
variation. A form, function, and adaptation approach is taken to
the study of evolution (past and present) through a survey of the sub-disciplines
within biological anthropology. We begin with a segment on human
skeletal biology -- including osteology, forensic anthropology, and paleopathology.
We will then build on this understanding of skeletal "form" in an analysis
of "function" -- comparative primate anatomy (locomotion and diet), followed
by a survey of primate behavior. These aspects of form and function
are then utilized in the study of human adaptation, from our earliest ancestors
to modern humans.
Introduction: Overview
of the course and description of class requirements. An overview of the
subfields within the subdiscipline of Biological Anthropology.
-
Haviland, W. (1994).
"The nature of Anthropology." Human Evolution and Prehistory.
3rd edition. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers,
pp. 6-29.
Human Osteology & Forensic Anthropology
Human Osteology:
Introduction to bone biology and a review of the bones of the human skeleton.
-
Bass: 1-10, 300-309
-
Shipman, P, A Walker, and D
Bichell. (1985). "Part I: The Nature of Bone."
The Human Skeleton. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, pp.
9-17.
Forensic Anthropology Techniques:
Age, Sex, and Race Determination - an overview of skeletal sites
and techniques used by physical anthropologists for individual identification.
-
Bass, W. (1987). "Forensic
Anthropology: the American experience." In Death, Decay,
and Reconstruction. Manchester University Press, pp. 225-239.
-
Sheridan, SG, JL Mobley-Tanaka,
DP Van Gerven, and WL Shields. (1992). A case of Late Prehistoric
mutiliation on the Northwest plains. Plains Anthropologist, 37(141):289-298.
-
Unknown. (1939). Dick
Tracy's Secret Detective Methods and Magic Tricks. Chicago:
The Quaker Oats Company, 7 pp.
Biocultural Perspectives:
An overview of methods used by physical anthropologists to understand the
cultural dimensions of a population using the biological data recorded
in their bones.
-
Van Gerven, DP, JR Hummert,
KP Moore, and MK Sandford. (1990). "Nutrition, disease, and
the human life cycle: A bioethnography of a Medieval Nubian Community."
CJ DeRousseau, ed. In Primate Life History and Evoution, New York:
Wiley-Liss, pp 297-323.
|
Debate 1:
Reburial Issue
|
Lab Practical 1:
Human Skeletal Biology
|
Primatology
Survey of the Living Primates:
definition of the Order Primates, trends in primate evolution, and a look
at the members of our Order.
-
Napier, JR and PH Napier.
(1985). "What are Primates?" The Natural History of the Primates,
Cambridge: MIT Press, pp. 1-19.
Comparative Anatomy 1:
Locomotion - explanation of the relationships between locomotion and ecology,
with a survey of primate morphology and the locomotor patterns
utilized by our closest living relatives.
Comparative Anatomy 2:
Diet and Dentition - survey of tooth morphology and the role
of the dentition in primate adaptation.
Primate Behavior: analysis
of primate social structure, group dynamics, interpersonal interactions,
and reproductive behaviors.
-
Small, MF. (1992).
"A reasonable sleep." Discover, April, pp 86-88.
-
Diamond, J. (1985). "Everything
else you always wanted to know about sex...but that we were afraid you'd
never ask." Discover, April, pp 70-82.
|
Debate 2:
Primates in Research
|
Lab Practical 2:
The Primates
|
Human Paleoanthropology
Human Evolution:
a quick overview of the human fossil record.
-
Clark, JD. (1993).
"The african tinderbox: The spark that ignited our cultural heritage."
IN Milestones in Human Evolution, AJ Almquist and A Manyak, eds.
Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland Press, Inc. pp. 167-182.
Origins of Bipedality: using
Lucy as a model, we will reconstruct the evolution of bipedality using
your knowledge of comparative anatomy and locomotion.
-
Wheeler, P. (1993).
"Human ancestors walked tall, stayed cool." Natural History, August,
65-67.
-
Napier, J. (1967).
"The antiquity of human walking." Scientific American, 216(4):56-66.
Origins of Human Social Structures:
this will provide a synthesis of what you know of the fossil record
and primate behavior
-
Zihlman, A and N Tanner.
(1978). "Gathering and the hominid adaptation." In Female Hierarchies,
L. Tiger and H Fowler, eds. Chicago: Beresford Books, pp 163-194.
|
Debate 3: Were
Neandertals our Ancestors?
|
Movie: "Clan
of the Cave Bear" or "Quest for Fire" |
Human Ecology
Modern Human Variation:
a survey of Mendilian inheritance, population genetics, and modern human
diversity related to issues of race, sex and gender, intelligence, etc.
-
Thomas, L (1984).
"The wonderful mistake." The Lives of a Cell.
-
Jurmain, R and H Nelson.
(1994) "Principles of Evolution." Introduction to Physical
Anthropology, 6th Edition. Minneapolis: West Publishing Company,
pp 73-107.
Human Adaptation 1:
Climate - survey of the human adaptations, both biological and
cultural, to climate as a force shaping human evolution
-
Frisancho, AR. (1981).
"Principles and definitions in the study of human adaptation." Human
Adaptation: A Functional Interpretation. Ann Arbor: University
of Michigan Press, pp 1-10.
-
Lasker, G. (1978).
"Human biological adapability: The ecological approach in physical
anthropology." IN Health and Human Condition: Perspectives on Medical
Anthropology, MH Logan nd EE Hunt Jr eds. Belmont, California:
Wadsworth Publishing Co, pp. 58-70.
Human Adaptation 2:
Disease - survey of the human adaptations, both biological
and cultural, to disease as a force shaping human evolution
-
Diamond, J. (1991).
"Curse and blessing of the ghetto." Discover, March, pp 60-65.
-
Wilford, JN. "Clues etched
in bone debunk theory of plague's spread." New York Times.
Summary:
synthesis of paradigms in biological anthropology and discussion of future
trends in the subdiscipline
| Debate 4: To
Be Decided |
Movie Night: "And
the Band Played On" or "Roe vs Wade" |
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Bass, William M. 1987. Human
Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual. 3rd edition.
Lab Manaual - mandatory
GRADING POLICIES: The final grade
will be based upon:
| 20% = |
Debates: There will be 4
debates, one per section dealing with a "hot topic" in that area of physical
anthropology. Each studen will be assigned to defend a "side" and
write a 5 page paper for each debate on the aspect of their particular
argument. Details for these presentations and papers will be provided. |
| 20% = |
Lab assignments & Class participation.
Attendance will not be taken, but you will be expected to hand in all lab
assignments on time. Active class participation will be counted toward
your final grade. Be forewarned, lab assignments will occur on an almost
daily basis. Movie nights are included in this portion of your grade.
There will be 3 "popular" films shown related to topics covered.
You will be give questions to think about prior to each film. Information
will be incorporated in the exams |
| 60% = |
Lab Practicals: There will
be 3 lab practicals throughout the semester. |
