Manual of Physical Anthropology


Book Description

The book provides expert information about physical manual anthropology and its application in the study and research of the biological variability of humans and human populations in time and space. The book is written for students of healthcare disciplines, for students of medicine, for students of teaching degrees in human biology and kinanthropometry, and for postgraduate students and professionals (doctors, coaches, nutrition advisors, etc.). The book is divided into eight chapters. The first chapter introduces physical anthropology, explaining its position and goals in the system of anthropological disciplines. This is followed by a chapter presenting the standardized methods of anthropometry and a chapter describing the organization of anthropological research and presenting a historical overview of major anthropological surveys. The subsequent chapters outline methods designed to evaluate body com­position and human constitution and methods assessing the physical growth and development of children. The last chapter but one details methods serv­ing to assess the physical parameters of an individual or group compared to the standard using the Z-score. The final chapter sets out the anthropometric instruments used in physical anthropometry and describes their technical pa­rameters.




A Guide to Careers in Physical Anthropology


Book Description

The field of physical anthropology deals with issues that everyone thinks about and cares about: our origins, our evolutionary history, and why we look and act the way we do. The field has benefited greatly by increased attention from the media, from popular books, and from several television series. There is a multitude of topics considered by physical anthropologists, including human and primate origins, primate societies, growth and development, genetics, forensic science, and nutrition. Most physical anthropology graduate students have traditionally aspired to research and/or teaching careers at a university. However, during the last decade there has been an increased interest in non-traditional careers outside the ivory tower, primarily because the number of new physical anthropology Ph.D.s exceeds the number of jobs available in anthropology departments. Because physical anthropology encompasses a variety of research interests, students are broadly trained and have a wealth of talents and skills that make them competitive for non-academic careers. However, pursuing opportunities outside the academy requires thoughtful planning and training. This collection serves as a reference for students contemplating a career in physical anthropology within or outside the academy. Several rewarding career paths that physical anthropologists have chosen are described. Students will understand how anthropological theory, methods, and training are applicable to job responsibilities and career development. This book will also help departments of anthropology design coursework and training programs that will make their students more competitive. In sum, the future of anthropology seems promising given the discipline's broad scope and concern for issues faced by contemporary society, and physical anthropologists will be playing an increased role in many arenas.




History of Physical Anthropology


Book Description

The comparative study of humans as biological organisms, their evolution, and their physiological and anatomical functions and ecology of primates surveys the entire field and summarizes and organizes the basic knowledge, fundamental principles and development.




A Companion to Biological Anthropology


Book Description

A Companion to Biological Anthropology The discipline of biological anthropology—the study of the variation and evolution of human beings and their evolutionary relationships with past and living hominin and primate relatives—has undergone enormous growth in recent years. Advances in DNA research, behavioral anthropology, nutrition science, and other fields are transforming our understanding of what makes us human. A Companion to Biological Anthropology provides a timely and comprehensive account of the foundational concepts, historical development, current trends, and future directions of the discipline. Authoritative yet accessible, this field-defining reference work brings together 37 chapters by established and younger scholars on the biological and evolutionary components of the study of human development. The authors discuss all facets of contemporary biological anthropology including systematics and taxonomy, population and molecular genetics, human biology and functional adaptation, early primate evolution, paleoanthropology, paleopathology, bioarchaeology, forensic anthropology, and paleogenetics. Updated and expanded throughout, this second edition explores new topics, revisits key issues, and examines recent innovations and discoveries in biological anthropology such as race and human variation, epidemiology and catastrophic disease outbreaks, global inequalities, migration and health, resource access and population growth, recent primate behavior research, the fossil record of primates and humans, and much more. A Companion to Biological Anthropology, Second Edition is an indispensable guide for researchers and advanced students in biological anthropology, geosciences, ancient and modern disease, bone biology, biogeochemistry, behavioral ecology, forensic anthropology, systematics and taxonomy, nutritional anthropology, and related disciplines.




Histories of American Physical Anthropology in the Twentieth Century


Book Description

Histories of American Physical Anthropology in the Twentieth Century chronicles the history of physical anthropology--or, as it is now known, biological anthropology--from its professional origins in the late 1800 up to its modern transformation in the late 1900s. In this edited volume, 13 contributors trace the development of people, ideas, traditions, and organizations that contributed to the advancement of this branch of anthropology that focuses today on human variation and human evolution. Designed for upper level undergraduate students, graduate students, and professional biological anthropologists, this book provides a brief and accessible history of the biobehavioral side of anthropology in America.













Evaluating Evidence in Biological Anthropology


Book Description

A critical assessment of how evidence in biological anthropology is discovered, collected and interpreted.