Cuvier’s Catastrophism is a geological and paleontological theory developed by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier (1769–1832). It proposes that the Earth’s geological features and fossil record can be explained by sudden, short-lived, violent events (catastrophes) rather than gradual processes. 🌍 Definition Catastrophism: The idea that Earth’s history has been shaped by rapid, catastrophic events—such as…

A cutting blade is a tool component designed to slice, sever, or shape materials by concentrating force along a sharp edge. It is fundamental in manufacturing, machining, and everyday tools, with variations depending on the material being cut and the intended precision. 🌍 Definition Cutting Blade: A sharpened edge or tool part used to cut,…

The term cusp has several meanings depending on the discipline, but at its core it refers to a point of transition, intersection, or sharp change. Let’s break it down across contexts: 🌍 General Definition Cusp: A point marking the transition between two states, phases, or conditions. Often implies being “on the edge” or “at the…

The culture-historical approach is an early 20th-century framework in archaeology and anthropology that sought to reconstruct the past by classifying artifacts, mapping their distribution, and identifying cultural traditions over time. It was the dominant paradigm before the rise of processual (scientific) archaeology in the 1960s. 🌍 Definition Culture-Historical Approach: A method that explains cultural change…

A culture-bound concept (or culture-bound syndrome in medical anthropology/psychology) refers to ideas, conditions, or behaviors that are specific to a particular cultural context and may not be easily understood or recognized outside of it. These highlight how culture shapes both interpretation and expression of human experience. 🌍 Definition Culture-Bound: Something that is limited to, or…

The culture of poverty is a controversial anthropological and sociological theory that suggests poverty is not only an economic condition but also a self-perpetuating system of values, behaviors, and social norms that keeps communities trapped in poverty across generations. 🌍 Definition Culture of Poverty: A concept introduced by anthropologist Oscar Lewis in the 1950s–60s. Core…

Culture history is an approach in anthropology and archaeology that emphasizes the chronological ordering and description of cultural traits, artifacts, and traditions to reconstruct the past. It was one of the earliest systematic frameworks in archaeology, dominant in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before being challenged by processual and post-processual approaches. 🌍 Definition…

A culture group in anthropology refers to a community of people who share a common set of cultural traits and practices that distinguish them from other groups. It is a way of organizing human diversity into meaningful units for study, often overlapping with concepts like ethnic group, tribe, or subculture. 🌍 Definition Culture Group: A…

A culture area is an anthropological concept used to classify and compare human societies based on shared cultural traits and geographic regions. It’s a way of grouping cultures that developed similar adaptations because they lived in comparable environments or had sustained contact with one another. 🌍 Definition Culture Area: A geographic region where societies share…

Culture is the shared system of meanings, practices, values, and material expressions that define human groups. In anthropology and sociology, it encompasses both tangible artifacts and intangible beliefs, shaping how people live, interact, and understand the world. 🌍 Definition Anthropology: Culture is the total way of life of a group, including language, rituals, tools, and…

A cultural universal is an element, pattern, trait, or institution that appears in every human culture worldwide, regardless of time or place. These universals reflect shared aspects of human experience and social organization, even though their specific expressions vary across societies. 🌍 Definition Cultural Universal: A feature of culture found in all human societies. Core…

Cultural Resource Management (CRM) is the professional field within archaeology and heritage studies that focuses on the identification, preservation, and management of cultural resources—such as archaeological sites, historic buildings, artifacts, and landscapes—especially when they are threatened by development or environmental change. It bridges anthropology, history, law, and public policy. 🌍 Definition Cultural Resource Management (CRM):…