In anthropology, biology, and material culture, auriculate is a descriptive term meaning “having ear-like appendages or lobes.” It is used across disciplines to describe shapes, structures, or features that resemble ears.

🌍 Definition

• Auriculate: From Latin auricula (“little ear”), meaning “ear-shaped” or “bearing lobes like ears.”
• General Use: Applied to plants, animals, artifacts, and anatomical features that display ear-like projections.

🔑 Anthropological & Biological Contexts

• Physical Anthropology:
  • Auriculate traits may describe skeletal or anatomical features with ear-like extensions.
• Archaeology & Material Culture:
  • Certain projectile points or tools are described as auriculate when they have basal lobes resembling ears.
  • Example: Auriculate flint points in Paleoindian lithic typologies.
• Botany & Zoology:
  • Leaves or shells may be termed auriculate if they have lobes at the base.
• Anatomy:
  • Refers to structures shaped like ears, such as auriculate leaves or auriculate cartilage formations.

📚 Importance in Anthropology

• Artifact Classification: Auriculate points are diagnostic in lithic typologies, helping archaeologists identify cultural traditions.
• Descriptive Precision: Provides a standardized term for morphology in artifacts and biological specimens.
• Comparative Insight: Auriculate forms highlight symbolic and functional design choices across cultures.

In short: Auriculate means “ear-shaped,” and in anthropology it often describes lithic points or artifacts with basal lobes resembling ears, serving as a key typological marker.