Can someone answer these two Anthropology/Archaeology questions?
Describe three ways we can recognize “intelligence” in the fossil archaeological record
Describe three ways in which the study of archaeology is useful to the modern world. Be sure to provide examples and explain their usefulness.
For the second one, I don't mean something like "it helps us understand our past," as that doesn't really do anything useful for the modern world. Something like "helps us understand climate change," so I need two more!
username_hidden2009-02-26T13:20:55Z
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Regarding the first question, you would be able to recognise intelligence from art, from designed objects and from symbolic acts (eg burial of the dead with grave goods). All of these are clearly present from the Upper Palaeolithic onwards, and evidence of design goes back much further.
Regarding the second question, archaeology is useful as the basis of the heritage industry (museums, ancient monuments, visitor attractions, etc). It is also useful as a way of correcting to harmful misconceptions about the past, such as the myth of the Aryan race.
Question #1: brain size as a function of body size; manufactured artifacts which are consistently associated with skeletal remains; genetic materials if they exist; evidence of social interaction. How many more do you want?
Question #2: If you want to really impress your teacher think about the question in the following way: First tell him or her that there are so many ways that knowledge of the past is useful that you are unable to enumerate them.
Then tell your teacher that the problems that archaeologists and anthropologists deal with are the problems which we are facing today in terms of our society have to be studied in terms of our knowledge of the past.
I am assuming that you like myself are not merely interested in getting a grade but in learning as much as you are able to about the world we both live in.
Then think of all the ways that knowledge of the past might help us to deal with the problems we face today.
In other words I am leaving it up to you to think the answer to this problem for yourself.
The reason I am leaving you to work this problem out for yourself is that long after I am dead you will have to figure out the answers to such problems on your own and it is best that you learn how to do so as soon as possible.
Page Stephens PhD
PS You might like to begin by finding an introductory anthropology textbook in your library and if you need help in understanding it feel free to get back in touch with me.