Assignment 4: Studying Change

Posted: February 18th, 2023

Assignment 4: Studying Change

Purpose:

Anthropologists study many different aspects of humanity in order to understand the diversity of the human species fully. Remember, evolution can apply to both physical and societal changes, so things like language and customs can evolve just as much as bodies and brains. In this assignment, you will examine how anthropologists from two different subfields can study evolution (change over time). Be sure you download the attached worksheet, fill it out, and submit it. Other formats (for example, a paper, will not be accepted)

Directions:
In the table that is provided, type your answers to these questions:

Explain what physical anthropology is, and how physical anthropologists study evolution. Find at least one scholarly source that identifies a specific research project in which physical anthropologists study evolution (e.g. the Human Genome Project- conduct your own original research, do not use this example). Describe the research project and its significance in our understanding of evolution.
Choose a second subfield of anthropology (cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, or archaeology). Explain what the second subfield focuses on, and how anthropologists in this subfield study evolution. Find at least one scholarly source that identifies a specific research project in which anthropologists from this subfield study evolve. For example, an archaeologist may look at how tools have changed through time, and what has caused that change (conduct your own original research, do not use this example). Describe the research project and its significance in our understanding of evolution.
Compare and contrast how physical anthropologists and anthropologists in the subfield you chose study evolution