The SOFA (Society of Forensic Anthropologists) Bibliography on Bone Sexing »
For every bone imaginable, there is a method to determine the biological sex.
Human Evolution Isn’t What It Used to Be
Recent analyses of the human genome reveal a huge number of rare—and therefore probably fairly new—mutations.
You write about genetics and evolution, one of the commonest questions you are likely to be asked at public events is whether human evolution has stopped. It is a surprisingly hard question to answer.
I’m tempted to give a flippant response, borrowed from the biologist Richard Dawkins: Since any human trait that increases the number of babies is likely to gain ground through natural selection, we can say with some confidence that incompetence in the use of contraceptives is probably on the rise (though only if those unintended babies themselves thrive enough to breed in turn).
Carpals and tarsals of mule deer, black bear and human: an osteology guide for the archaeologist »
Existing osteological literature often lacks descriptions and illustrations of the smaller elements, such as hand and foot bones, of animals commonly found in the archaeological record. Black bear (Ursus americanus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are both cosmopolitan species and important resources for indigenous peoples, resulting in their widespread presence in faunal assemblages. Additionally, the carpal and tarsal elements of these two mammalian taxa can be difficult to distinguish from human elements because of their similarities in size and shape. Proper identification of faunal and human remains is paramount to responsible cultural resource management (CRM). This thesis presents a textual and photographic osteological guide of black bear and mule deer carpals and tarsals and provides the means for distinguishing these elements from their human counterparts.
Tamela S. Smart, M.A. Thesis, Western Washington University
Blonde Hair Evolved More than Once »
Does evolution have a soft spot for blondes? About 5–10% of people from Melanesia, a group of islands northeast of Australia, have naturally blonde hair — the highest prevalence outside Europe. Yet people from the region have the darkest skin pigmentation outside Africa.
Now, a study of people from the Solomon Islands in Melanesia shows that they evolved the striking blonde trait independently of people in Europe.
Requested reblog: HELP A FUTURE CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGIST FOLLOW A DREAM! »
This summer, I have plans to travel to Cochabamba, Bolivia, for an anthropological field school through my university, Rutgers.
This has the potential to be a life-changing experience for me. I’ll be earning undergraduate credits for my degree in Cultural Anthropology. I’ll be improving my…
"Indeed, there is no culture at all unless it is reconstructed carefully and painstakingly in the living brains of each new generation."
Michael Reddy, “The Conduit Metaphor”The Female in Evolution »
Watch video of talks from the “Female in Evolution” symposium.
The California Academy of Sciences and the Leakey Foundation present a fascinating discussion on how today’s women are influenced by 50 million years of primate evolution.
After an introduction by primatologist Kelly Stewart, pioneering anthropologist Adrienne Zilhman will give the keynote presentation, titled “The Real Females of Human Evolution”. Zihlman’s research has had major impacts on the fields of physical anthropology and human evolution. In the 1970s, her critique of the “Man the Hunter” model opened the way for researchers to incorporate the role of females in hominid biological evolution and in human cultural development, an approach that has since become mainstream.
Chaired by Leslea Hlusko, the Paleoanthropology session will feature an overiew lecture by Daniel Lieberman, titled “Millions of Years of Moms,” and a case study lecture by Dean Falk on “The Role of Prehistoric Mothers in the Evolution of Language”.
The Behavioral session, chaired by Jill Pruetz, consists of an overview lecture by Joan Silk on “The Natural History of Social Bonds”. Dorothy Cheney will discuss “Primate Social Cognition” for the case study lecture.
For the afternoon keynote, Robert Martin will discuss “The Evolution of Mothering: How Long Should A Mother Suckle Her Baby?”.
Chaired by Brooke Scelza, the Hunter-forager session will have an overview lecture by Kristen Hawkes on “From Men’s Hunting to the Importance of Grandmothers: Lessons About Human Evolution from the Behavioral Ecology of Foragers”, and a case study by Rebecca Bliege Bird titled “Beyond Woman the Gatherer: Women’s Cooperative Hunting, Sharing and Social Networks in Aboriginal Australia”.
Each session of this intimate event will end with a question and answer session. Leslie Aiello will conclude the day’s proceedings with a symposium wrap-up.
Postings on all things cultural, physical, and archaeological.
