Biological Anthropology - 2nd semester
Code
711001047
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Antropologia
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Tânia Minhós Condeço Rodrigues
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
The Biological Anthropology aims to undertand the human evolution, dealing the the humans as biological entities. We will conduct an evolutionary journey from the emergence and dradiation of the first primates to the lineageds that gave rise to the Homo sapiens. We will combine knowledge from different research areas such as Paleontology, Archeology, Ecology, Genetics or Primatology, to better understand the adaptative function of anatomical and behavioural changes that occurred during our evolution
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
1. Presentation. What is the biological anthropology?
2. Us as primates.
3. The geological time scale. The continental drift and climate change.
4. Methods of radiometric and relative dating.
5. Biology of skeleton and some methodologies used in their study.
6. Some questions of Funerary Anthropology.
7. Human Evolution
7.1. The first hominins and their characteristics
7.2. Phylogenies, morphology and behaviour of hominins
7.3. Use of tools, meat consumption and gathering behaviour
7.4. The hominins of Pleistocene
7.5. The anatomically modern humans
- The Upper Palaeolithic technology
- The behavioir of Homo sapiens sapiens
- Origin and dispersal of anatomically modern humans
Bibliography
Boyd, R. & Silk, J. B., 2003. How humans evolved. 3rd Ed. London, W.W. Norton.
Cartwright, J., 2000. Evolution and Human Behavior. Cambridge, The MIT Press.
Casanova, C., 2006. Introdução à Antropologia Biológica: Princípios Evolutivos, Genética e Primatologia. Lisboa, ISCSP.
Jones, S., Martin, R. D. & Pilbeam, D. (eds.), 1995. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Evolution. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Relethford, J. 2010. The Human Species: An Introduction to Biological Anthropology. 8th Ed, New York, McGraw-Hill Companies.
Larsen, C. S. (2010). A Companion to Biological Anthropology. Oxford, UK, Wiley-Blackwell
Vieira, A. B., 1995. Ensaios sobre a Evolução do Homem e da Linguagem. Lisboa, Fim de Século Edições.
Teaching method
The classes will be conducted following two formats:
1) Contents presented by the professor, always providing the opportunity for questions and discussion
2) Analysis and discussion of scientific papers
Evaluation method
The evaluation will be without exam. There will be one written test covering all the teached contents and written/practical assays.
Evaluation will be conducted following the criteria below:
1) Written tests (45% each);
2) Attendance/participation on pratical/written assays (10%);