ANTH 2080-01

Fall 2006
Anthropology 2080
Introduction to Physical Anthropology
Professor Sari Miller-Antonio
smillerantonio@csustan.edu
Office: C215; 667-3604
Office Hours: M 1:30 – 3:30, W 1:30 - 3 (or by appointment)
Course Content and Format
This course is an exploration of the field of biological anthropology from genetic, evolutionary,
behavioral and cultural perspectives. Topics include: the development of evolutionary theory; the principles
of inheritance, human variation and adaptation; the study of non-human primates; and the fossil record of
human evolution.
In the early part of the course we investigate the biological bases for human evolution. With this
foundation, we will go on to study our nearest living relatives, monkeys and apes, with an emphasis on social
behavior of these animals. Next, we examine the human fossil and archaeological record with a focus on the
evidence for the beginnings of complex cognitive human behaviors. We end the semester with a look at
human diversity and some timely issues in the field.
Learning Goals - After completing this course, students will:
• Understand the application of the scientific method (i.e. how to formulate and test hypotheses)
• Understand the theory of evolution at both the molecular level and the level of the organism
• Understand the fossil evidence for primate and human evolution
• Understand the interdisciplinary nature of this field
• Gain an appreciation for the biological bases of human and non-human primate behavior
Course Requirements and Grading Policy
There will be four exams each equally weighted at 100 pts. Exam material comes from your text, lecture
material, articles and video material presented in class. Your lowest test grade will be dropped but there will be
no curve.
Attendance: It is important that you come to class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain
missed lecture notes from a classmate.
Annual Editions Article – (see last page of this syllabus). Pick an article, read it, then take it one step further
and find a related report/story/news segment. Present the main points of your article and related information in
class. Turn in a short (one page) summary. 50 points
Ice Breaker internet exploration: “Anthropology on the Web” Go to the online textbook site and click on
web links for any chapter that interests you. (Sept. 11 – 25) 25 points. Find your green number in the upper
right corner of this syllabus. Here is the schedule: 9/11 (#1), 9/13 (#2), 9/18 (#3), 9/20 (#4), 9/25 (#5)
http://anthropology.wadsworth.com/jurmaine6e_ess
Anthropology in the News and Mass Media – Scrapbook, film, or (popular) book choice. We’ll talk about
what you’ve found on the last day of class – Dec. 6. ** You must show up to participate in this final class
discussion to earn the full 50 points. Turn in short written narratives by Wednesday of final exam week..
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Total possible points: 425 (your grade will be determined as a percentage of the total possible points)
The +/- grading system will be used for final course grades.
Required Texts:
Essentials of Physical Anthropology by Jurmain, Kilgore, Trevathan, Nelson sixth edition. Chapters are assigned
by lecture topic. There is a study guide for this text but it is not required and there is plenty of web support for the
material. The text and the study guide are on reserve in the library.
Annual Editions: Physical Anthropology 05/06 (McGraw Hill 2004) – Articles are assigned by date. (Everyone
must read all assigned articles but each student will serve as presenter/discussion leader for only one)
DATES TOPICS CHAPTERS
Sept. 6 , 11, 13
Course Introduction and Expectations
What biological anthropologists do
How and why we do it
1
The Development of Evolutionary Thought 2
Darwin & Natural Selection
Video: What Darwin Never Saw
Sept. 18, 20, 25
The Biological Basis of Life
3
Molecular Genetics
Mendelian genetics and inheritance 4
Annual Editions Present Articles # 4, 3, 7, 8 (9/25)
Review for exam
Sept. 27 Exam 1 (chapters 1-4, lecture materials, A.E. articles)
Oct. 2 Macroevolution: Processes of Mammalian Evolution 5
Classification
Oct. 4, 9
Primate Taxonomy
Survey of the Living Primates 6
Endangered Primates
Annual Editions Present Articles # 13, 37 (10/9)
Oct. 16, 18, 23 Primate Behavior 7
Special Topics: Evolution of Language; Aggression
Various video clips
Annual Editions Present Articles # 9, 11, 15, 29 (10/18)
Annual Editions Present Articles # 16, 17, 19 (10/23)
Review for exam
Oct. 25
Exam 2 (chapters 5-7, lecture materials, articles)
Oct. 30, Nov. 1 Early Primate Evolution and Miocene Fossil Apes 8
Dating Methods in Paleoanthropology
Paleoanthropologists in the field (short video),
The earliest African hominids
2

Bigger Brains and the earliest Homo
Annual Editions Present Articles # 20, 21 (11/1)
Nov. 6, 8 Homo erectus: Fossil casts and morphology 9
Homo erectus dispersals - discoveries in Asia and Europe
Archaeological sites, technology and culture
Annual Editions Present Articles #25, 22 (11/6)
Nov. 13
Nov. 15
Nov. 20, 22
A Big Cave in Rural China (Miller-Antonio’s research)
Review for exam
Exam 3 (chapters 8 and 9, lecture materials, articles)
Archaic Homo sapiens: Middle Pleistocene humans in Africa, 10
Europe, and Asia
Neandertals: Upper Pleistocene humans in Europe
Annual Editions Present Article # 28, 31 (11/22)
Nov. 27, 29
Origin and Dispersal of Modern Humans: Competing Models 11
Technology and Art in the Upper Paleolithic
Annual Editions Present Articles # 30, 32 (11/29)
Dec. 4 Modern Human Variation and Adaptation 12
The Race Concept
Annual Editions Present Articles #33, 39 (12/4)
Dec. 6
Anthropology in the News and Mass Media – in class discussion
Turn in short written narratives by Wednesday of Final Exam Week.
Evaluate this course
D ec. 15 Exam 4 (chapters 10, 11, 12, lectures, articles)
9:00 – 10:00
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Please look over these choices and indicate your first, second and third preference.
Turn this form in on Monday, Sept. 11. Name: __________________________________
Date
Annual Editions Article
Sept. 25 Why Should Students Learn Evolution #4
15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense #3
Of Mice, Men and Genes #7
The Drunken Monkey Hypothesis #8
Oct. 9 How Animals do Business #13
An Open Door, A Forest…. #37
Oct. 18 What Are Friends For? #9
Got Culture? #11
A Telling Difference #15
The Gift of Gab #29
Oct. 23 Mothers and Others #16
Had King Henry VIII’s Wives Only Known #17
Apes of Wrath #19
Nov. 1 The Salamander’s Tale #20
Hunting the First Hominid #21
Nov. 6 Food for Thought: Dietary Change in Human Ev. #22
Born to Run #25
Nov. 22 Rethinking Neanderthals #28
The Morning of the Modern Mind #31
Nov. 29 We Are All Africans #30
The Littlest Human #32
Dec. 4 Skin Deep #33
Inuit Paradox #39
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