Syllabus (ANTHROPOLOGY)

Course Type: MAJ-1

Semester: 1

Course Code: BANTMAJ01T

Course Title: Introduction to Anthropology

(L-P-Tu): 6-0-0

Credit: 6

Practical/Theory: Theory

Course Objective: • To understand the holistic nature of the subject. • Understanding the relationship between human biology, culture, and language • How different humans have resided over the World throughout the history

Learning Outcome: In this paper students will learn about the theories related to human evolution and variation along with the development of Physical Anthropology to Biological Anthropology; relationship between human and other non-human primates. The students will learn

SEMESTER – I 1 Course x 6 credits = 6 credits

BANTMJ01T: Introduction to Anthropology

Total Marks: 50 (40 term exam + 10 internal assessment)

Unit – I Fundamental of Biological Anthropology

Understanding human variation and evolutionary thought, theories of evolution, Lamarckism, Neo Lamarckism, Darwinism, Synthetic Theory, Molecular evolution theories.

Development of Biological Anthropology through the history of Physical Anthropology; Aim, Scope and relationship with allied disciplines; Branches of Biological/Physical Anthropology.

Classification and characteristics of living primates, comparative anatomy, Great Apes, and other non-human primates,

Comparative account of various ethnic group classifications (Blumenbach, Hooton, Haddon, Deniker),

Unit – II Fundamental of Social Cultural Anthropology

Scope and relevance of Social Cultural Anthropology and its relationship with other disciplines.

Concepts of society and culture, status and role, social stratification, and civil society. Social-cultural institutions: family, marriage, kinship, religion.

Linguistic Anthropology: cultural setting of language, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, cultural analysis of colour and kinship terminologies, lingua-franca and language, multilingualism and diglossia.

Unit – III Fundamental of Archaoelogical Anthropology

Definition and scope of archaeological anthropology and its relationship with other branches of anthropology and allied disciplines.

Methods of estimation of Time and reconstruction of the past: absolute dating methods, relative dating methods, methods of climatic reconstruction: Geochronology of Pleistocene Epoch: Glacial and Interglacial Pluviation and Inter Pluviation, Different types of geoclimatic events.

Understanding Culture: technique of tool manufacturing and estimation of their relative efficiency, classification of tools, primary and combination fabrication techniques, typology and cultural nomenclature

References

Jurmain, R., Kilgore, L., Trevathan, W., Ciochon, R.L. 2012. Introduction to Physical Anthropology. Wadsworth Publ.

Stanford, C., Allen, J.S. and Anton, S.C. 2010. Exploring Biological Anthropology: The Essentials. Prentice-Hall.

Human Variations: Race Types and Ethnic Groups. London: Routledge.

Sage. Davis, K. 1981. Human Society. New Delhi: Surjeet Publications.

Ember, C. R. et al. 2011. Anthropology. New Delhi:

Rapport, N. and Overing J. 2004. Key Concepts in Social and Cultural Anthropology. London: Routledge.

Bhattacharya, D.K. 1978. Emergence of Culture in Europe, Delhi: B.R. Publication. Bhattacharya, D.K. 1979. Old Stone Age Tools and Techniques. Calcutta: K.P. Bagchi Company.

Bhattacharya, D.K. 1996. Palaeolithic Europe. Humanities Press. Champion et al. 1984. Prehistoric Europe. New York: Academic Press.

Sankalia, H.D. 1964. Stone Age Tools. Poona: Deccan College