ANTHROP 1AA3 Lecture Notes - Primatology, Osteology, Cultural Anthropology

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTHROP 1AA3
• Professor: Sandra Preston

Document Summary

Osteology (osteo = bone, ology = study of) Study of the structure and function of the human skeleton. This is the foundation for the basis of understanding fossils. Adaptation in living populations: example: how do we know if an organism is bipedal (walks on two feet), different areas on the skeleton can determine this. Humans have a hole on the bottom of our skulls where our spinal columns go up our brains > great apes have this hole at the back of the skull. Humans have a double s shaped curved spine > great apes have a variation. Humans have an open, broad pelvis (we have a broad centre of balance to walk bipedal because of our pelvis) > apes have a narrow and tall pelvis. Humans are knock-kneed > great apes have straight legs. Paleontology study of fossil animals and plants. What are human characteristics: what makes a specific fossil, human, this is an ongoing debate.