Syllabus (ANTHROPOLOGY)

Course Type: ME-4

Semester: 4

Course Code: BANTMEA24C

Course Title: Fundamentals of Anthropology

(L-P-Tu): 3-1-0

Credit: 4

Practical/Theory: Combined

Course Objective: To gives you fundamental knowledge of the Archaeological, Biological and Social-Cultural Anthropology. It also explores the practical knowledge of Archaeological, Biological and Social-Cultural Anthropology.

Learning Outcome: 1. The students will learn the basic framework of Prehistory in a global context, as well as the shifting Palaeo environment and climatic during Pleistocene, and will have a fundamental understanding of the concept and scope of archaeological anthropology

Course Title : BANTMEA24C: Fundamentals of Anthropology Credits: 4 (3 Theory + 1 practical)

Total Marks: 50 (30 theory + 20 practical)

Unit – I: Archaeological Anthropology: Concept of culture in prehistory; Brief introduction to different cultural stages in pre-history and proto-history; General introduction to cultural chronology. Identification and description of stone and bone tools; Different tool making technologies – Direct percussion - block on block, block on anvil; indirect percussion – controlled flaking, fluting, step flaking, pressure flaking; grinding & polishing. Field techniques - exploration, excavation; Dating methods - concept and importance of chronology in archeology; absolute and relative dating methods - C14, K/Ar, stratigraphy and river terraces.

Unit – II: Biological Anthropology: Definition, aim, scope, branches and applied areas of Biological Anthropology; Relationship with Human Biology and Medicine.

Morphology – Somatoscopic Features (skin colour, scalp hair, nose & ear);

Skeletal system – Definition: structure and function; Types of bones - name, number and position of bones of human skeleton;

Modifications of human skeleton as consequences of evolution – bipedal erect posture.

Human Dentition (types and salient Features); Dental Formula (Deciduous and Permanent).

Unit III Social-cultural Anthropology: Definitions, aim, scope and objective; Ethnography & Ethnology;

Concept of culture: Definition and types of culture (material and non-material), features of culture, socialization, culture shock, enculturation, functions of culture;

Material Culture: Types and functions of various forms of hunting, fishing and agricultural implements used in different environmental background.

Concept of society: Society, group, community, structure, organization, system, institution. Relationship between Society and Culture.

Marriage - Definition, Types & Regulations (Preferential, Prescribed And Incest taboos), Marital transactions (Dowry and Bride price);

Family – Definition, Types & Function of family;

Kinship – Definition & Functions; Types (Bilineal, Ambilineal, Unilateral, Bilateral); Classification of kin, Kinship terminology; Concept of Clan, Phratry, Moietry, Lineage.

Practical : Credit : 1

Unit – I: Archaeological Anthropology: Basic ideas about identification of stone tools (differences between naturally flaked objects and stone tools on the basis of location, direction and number of flake scars, shape); core and flake tools (identification of cortex, flake scar, ripple mark, striking platform, point of impact, positive and negative bulb of percussion, drawing of linear diagram).

Unit – II: Biological Anthropology: Anthroposcopy: Assessment of Skin Colour: exposed (forehead) and unexposed (inner surface of the upper arm). Scalp Hair: form, texture, whorl (number and type). Nose: depression of the nasal root, nasal profile, tip of the nose, inclination of the nasal septum, nasal wings. Ear: Lobe attachment, hypertrichosis of Ear (at-least 5 subjects).

Unit – III: Social-cultural Anthropology: Project work: Preparation of enumeration (census) form and applying it on at-least 10 families in any nearby locality (family composition, socio-economic status: occupation and education); A comprehensive brief report on this study to be prepared by the student and submit.

N.B. Laboratory Note-Book/ Report duly signed and/or forwarded by the teacher(s) / HoD should be submitted before practical examinations for evaluation. The student will be evaluated on the basis of the Laboratory Note-Book/ Report submitted and viva-voce.