Briefly going into a bit more detail about the work of Taryn Johnson, we learn more about how anthropologists reconstruct our past
evolution
A Little Finger and a Lot of Background.
With the announcement that a Denisovan finger bone physically resembles modern humans while genetically being more related to Neandertal, I give some context as to how we can know that.
And Then There Were Five
A brief look at the several members of our genus who survived until most recent times, including the recently announced Homo luzonensis.
The Future of Paleontology in a Global, Digital World.
Technology potentially allows more researchers than ever before to access more materials than dreamed of just a few decades ago. The push to make that access open source is there. Which way should we go with that information?
Why Four Fields?
If you're an anthropologist, or even just a casual student of anthropology (I'm including followers of this blog), you've heard the phrase "Four Fields Anthropology," or you've heard about the four fields in general. But it's important to note that approaching anthropology as an enormous umbrella that encompasses everything that humans can possibly be related … Continue reading Why Four Fields?
Why I Won’t Miss the Missing Link.
The "missing link" is one of the most pervasive ideas in the popular understanding of evolution. I hate it, I'm not alone in hating it, and here's why.
Meme’s the Word
You know those viral internet images that are hilarious and sometimes stinging? They have their roots in the late 70s, directly coined by an Oxford zoologist who was inspired by geneticists, anthropologists, and ethologists in coming up with it.
Evolution’s Place in Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humans. It's the study of our cultural diversity and developments. Our similarities and differences. It's the study of our history--hopefully without some of the drawbacks of nationalism that History is criticized for. It's the study of our shared heritage. And that includes or place in the Animal Kingdom. So in order to understand the biological aspects of the field of anthropology, we need to have a basic understanding of evolution.