Anthropology Demystified

Q.1 Socio-cultural anthropology (10M)

socio-cultural anthropology is one of the four subfields of anthropology. It

Following Franz Boas classification,

ross space and time.

deals with the socio-cultural evolution and variation among humans, ac

Background

The field had a very systematic beginning with 19%

Subsequently, in the 20* century, it developed as social anthrop
chiefly Radcliffe-Brown. Meanwhile, it developed as cultural anthropology in
America, led b

like Boas and functionalists like Malinowski.

century classical evolutionism. It was then known as ethnology.

ology in Britain, led by structural functionalists,
y historical particularists’

Around 1953, the two were merged to create the integrated discipline of socio-
cultural anthropology.

Scope

The social dimension is concerned with social structure, institutions, economic and
p
cultural dimension deals with all acquired human behaviour transmitted through
social heritage.

olitical organisation. The

Thanks to an interdisciplinary approach, the scope has widened to include several

specialisations, few as shown

below —
Sub-Branches
Economic Political Legal Psychological
Anthropology Anthropology Anthropology Anthropology
Relevance

Socio-cultural anthropology has been helpful in solving several intra and inter—
group problems. It has busted myths
such as racial superiority, and the supposed ‘savage’ nature of tribes. It has been
the backbone of applied and

action anthropology, especially in rural and tribal development.

Thus, socio-cultural anthropology has emerged as dominant among all social

sciences.

Q.2 Biological anthropology (10M)

Following Franz Boas "classification, biological anthropology is one of the four

subfields of anthropology. It deals with
the biological evolution of, and variation in humans, across space and time.

Background

The field emerged in the late 18" century. It was then known as physical
anthropology, as it centred around the
study of morphology in three major topics — race, fossils and primates.Changes in
the subject started from the early
20" century, with a newfound focus on genetics and social biology. The last few
decades have seen a major
expansion in its scope, and thus the term ‘physical’ was replaced by ‘biological.’

Scope

It seeks to answer questions on human origins, diversity, and how bio-cultural

factors have shaped human evolution
and adaptation.
Chapter - 1.3 : Main Branches of Anthropology

Thanks to an interdisciplinary approach, the scope has widened to include several

specialisations, few as shown

below —
| Sub-Branches |

| |

Human Palaeo- Primatology Human Ecology Auxology and

Genetics anthropology and Adaptation Demographics

vance

The works of biological anthropologists find major applications in diverse fields

such as health and medicine,
forensics, ergonomics and sports. Today, biological anthropologists are working
with socio-cultural anthropologists
to further align their solutions to diverse cultures and societies.

Q3 Trace the development of biological anthropology, from its origin as physical

anthropology. (15M)

The late 18" century saw the emergence of the field of physical anthropology. The
subject centred around the
study of three major topics — race, fossils and primates. The objective was of
attempting answers to the basic
enquires of man about himself, The subject was aptly called ‘physical anthropology”
as it dealt with only the
morphological features, under the three topics.

Changes in the subject started from the early 20" century. The period was marked by
the discovery of ABO blood
group system. synthetic theory of evolution, and rediscovery of Mendel’s Laws of
Genetics. New fields like
biochemistry and cytogenetics emerged.

All these developments brought a sea change in the subject. Genetic studies
gradually replaced morphological
studies. Studies also started involving the interaction between heredity and
environment, alon g with social biology.
The objective of the subject changed from mere speculation, to application for
mankind, Washburn (1951), following

all these changes, renamed the sub ject to ‘new physical anthropology.’ Soon
afterwards, we denounced the concept
of races and stopped studying race altogether,

In recent decades. the subject has advanced much further, particularly in an

interdisciplinary approach. Complete
knowledge of the subject now requires basic clarity of concepts of some
paramedical, biological and social sciences
like anatomy, biochemistry, ecology, psychology and molecular biology.

Thus, what Washburn called “new” has become an integral part of the subject
only ‘physical.’ Hence, we use a much wider term, ‘biological anthropology’
integrated bio-cultural approach to anthropology.
matter, and the subject is no more
This has enabled us to follow an

Q.4 Archaeological anthropology (10M)

Following Franz Boas’ classification, archaeological anthropology is one of

thropology, It

deals with reconstructing the cultural forms of past and their growth and de

Background and Scope

The branch originated in 1797, but gained popular favour only in the late 1g
century. Until 1960s, archaeolo ists
Were concerned with describing fossils and the material remains of prehistoric
sites, along with the techniq i
¥ them. After 1960s, Julian Stewards cultural ecology model changed the approa

the four subfields of an

velopment in time,

: ues used
ch of archaeology. Their focus
Anthropology Demystified

Sc

shifted to understanding the socio-cultural processes and the rate and direction of
cultural change. This development

is termed as new archaeological anthropology.’

ipal - h
1. Prehistoric archaeology - Deals with the undocumented human past.
2. Historic archaeology - Deals with human past for which written records are
available

3. Ethnoarchaeology - Combines surviving archaeological remains with present

ethnographic data. For example,
Brian Haydon (1987) examined the manufacturing of Mesoamerican quern-stones to gain
insights into

prehistoric stone age of Ceniral America.

n Developm

The use of GIS tools, along with genetic and DNA engineering, have enhanced the
interdisciplinary and holistic
outlook of this discipline.

Q.5 Linguistic Anthropology (10M)

Following Franz Boas’ classification, linguistic anthropology is one of the four

subfields of anthropology. It deals
with the study of language and speech as socio-cultural phenomenon across space and
time.

ac n cope

Unul early decades of 20" century, the branch was called "anthropological
linguistics,’ as it dealt with the origin and
classification of language. From 1930s onwards, important works like the Sapir
Whorf Hypothesis and structuralism
by Claude Levi-Strauss gained popularity. These focused on the link between
language and human thought process,
along with its implications on our behaviour. Post 1950s, the focus therefore
shifted to studying language as a
vehicle of culture, and the relations between speech and behavioural patterns. Dell
Hymes, a prominent linguist
became among the first to rename the field to linguistic anthropology.

Sub-Branches

Historical Structural Socio- Psycho- Ethnosemantics

Linguistics Linguistics Linguistics Linguistics

eva

rt time, has contributed immensely in understanding the connections

has generated a new found appreciation of language's role in human
onserve various languages, especially of tribal and indigenous groups.
Q.6 What do you understand by the terms,

the two. applied and action anthropology?’ Differentiate between

(15M)
Chapter - 1.3 : Main Branches of Anthropology

li nth

Arpt hy can be defined as the organised interaction between professional

anthropologists and policy-
g : bo public and private. Herein, anthropological knowledge is used by others
(government, voluntary
agencies and private agencies) as per their specific requirements.

For oe io Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) strategy was devised by the ‘Task Force on
Development of Tribal
Areas (1972)" and the Expert Committee on Tribal Development (1972)", which were
both headed by two
eminent anthropologists, L.P Fidyarthi and §.C Dube respectively.

Action Anthropology

The term was coined by Sol Tax in 1957. In action anthropology, the anthropologists
are themselves involved in
planning and administering the policy of development. They become the agents of
change directly, not depending
on others to use their knowledge.

Differences

Sol Tax has addressed the difference as follows -

I. Action anthropology facilitates work with the community to seek solutions and
thus is more participatory.
Applied anthropology generally provides the community with ready-made solutions,

2. An action anthropologist does not have any master. H/she works as a member of
the local community.
3. Action anthropologist must be a theoretical anthropologist, but not in
background, rather in practice.

Both applied and action anthropology are important, and must be promoted. Angela
Cheater has rightly said that
it is the anthropological approach that must be promoted, so that anyone willing to
work for the benefit of society

can become action anthropologists themselves.