The phrase “classic example” is used across disciplines to highlight a paradigmatic case—something that perfectly illustrates a concept, principle, or phenomenon. In anthropology and related fields, it often points to a textbook case that embodies the defining traits of a category.
🌍 General Meaning
- Classic Example: A model case that is widely recognized as representative of a broader idea.
- Function: Helps clarify abstract concepts by grounding them in a concrete, well-known instance.
🔑 In Anthropology
- Classic Example of a Band Society: The !Kung San of southern Africa, often cited for egalitarian, kin-based organization.
- Classic Example of Chiefdoms: The Mississippian culture at Cahokia, with mound-building and ranked leadership.
- Classic Example of Early Civilization: Mesopotamia, with urban centers, writing, and monumental architecture.
- Classic Example of Lithic Technology: Oldowan choppers, representing the earliest deliberate stone tools.
📚 Why It Matters
- Pedagogy: Classic examples are teaching tools—easy entry points for students.
- Comparative Analysis: They anchor comparative catalogs, showing how diverse cases align with or diverge from the “model.”
- Cultural Identity: Societies themselves sometimes present “classic examples” of their traditions in ritual or heritage contexts.
In short: A “classic example” is a model case that perfectly illustrates a concept, widely used in anthropology, geology, and history to anchor comparative understanding.
