In anthropology, aerial reconnaissance refers to the use of aerial observation—via planes, drones, or satellites—to locate, record, and analyze archaeological and cultural features across landscapes. It is a cornerstone of archaeological survey methods, closely related to aerial photography and remote sensing. 🌍 What Is Aerial Reconnaissance? Definition: Systematic observation from the air to detect archaeological…

In anthropology, aerial photography is a survey and documentation method that uses images taken from aircraft or drones to study landscapes, archaeological sites, and cultural features. It has revolutionized archaeological anthropology by revealing patterns invisible from the ground. 🌍 What Is Aerial Photography in Anthropology? Definition: The use of photographs taken from above (planes, drones,…

In anthropology, an adze blade is a ground stone or metal tool component used for woodworking, shaping, and carving, often found in archaeological contexts as evidence of technological innovation and material culture. 🪓 What Is an Adze Blade? Definition: The cutting edge of an adze, a tool similar to an axe but with the blade…

In anthropology, “adjustment” refers to the ways humans respond to environmental, social, and cultural stressors—through biological, developmental, and cultural mechanisms. It is a broad concept used in physical/biological anthropology to describe human adaptability, and in cultural anthropology to explain how societies cope with change. 🌍 Types of Adjustment in Anthropology Acclimatory (Physiological) Adjustments Short-term, reversible…

In anthropology, the Adena culture refers to a prehistoric Native American tradition centered in the Ohio River Valley (c. 1000–200 BCE), known for its elaborate burial mounds, ceremonial practices, and distinctive material culture. It is one of the foundational mound-building cultures of North America, preceding and influencing the later Hopewell tradition. 🌍 Origins and Chronology…

The word “acute” in anthropology doesn’t refer to a single fixed concept, but it appears in several important contexts where anthropologists describe short-term, sharp, or urgent phenomena. 🌍 Uses of “Acute” in Anthropology Medical Anthropology Acute illness: Short-term health conditions (e.g., infections, injuries) contrasted with chronic illnesses. Anthropologists study how cultures interpret and respond to…

The abbreviation “AD” in anthropology usually refers to Anno Domini (“in the year of the Lord”), a dating convention used in historical and archaeological contexts to mark years in the Gregorian calendar. It is paired with BC (Before Christ), though many anthropologists now prefer the secular terms CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before Common Era).…

In anthropology, “adaptive radiation” refers to the evolutionary process by which a single ancestral species diversifies into multiple descendant species, each adapted to different ecological niches. It is a concept borrowed from evolutionary biology but applied in anthropology to understand primate and human evolution. 🌍 What Is Adaptive Radiation? Definition: Rapid diversification of a lineage…

In anthropology, adaptation refers to the ways humans—biologically and culturally—adjust to their environments to survive and thrive. It encompasses genetic, physiological, developmental, and cultural strategies that allow populations to cope with environmental stressors and changing conditions. 🌍 Types of Adaptation in Anthropology Genetic Adaptation Long-term evolutionary changes passed through DNA. Example: The sickle-cell trait provides…

Adapidae is an extinct family of early primates from the Eocene epoch (about 55–34 million years ago), often considered ancestral to modern strepsirrhines such as lemurs and lorises. In anthropology, they are crucial for understanding primate evolution, adaptation, and the origins of human lineage. 🐒 Origins and Classification Temporal Range: Early to Late Eocene (55–34…

In anthropology, an “activity area” refers to a spatially defined zone within an archaeological site where specific tasks were carried out, leaving behind material traces that reveal patterns of human behavior. It is a key concept in archaeological anthropology, helping researchers reconstruct daily life, social organization, and cultural practices. 🌍 What Is an Activity Area?…

In anthropology, “achieved status” refers to a social position that an individual attains through personal effort, choices, skills, or accomplishments, rather than being born into it. It contrasts with ascribed status, which is assigned at birth (such as age, sex, or kinship). 🌍 What Is Achieved Status? Definition: A status earned or chosen, reflecting personal…