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Anthropology is a social science that studies [[human]]s from the perspective of their [[culture]]. This is different from disciplines such as [[psychology]], which uses the perspective of personality and cognition; or [[biology]], which focuses on the body. Anthropology studies the whole of the human condition: past, present, and future; biology, society, language and culture.   

'''Anthropology''' (Greek: ἄνθρωπος, ''anthrōpos'': "man"; and -λογία, ''logia'', "study") is a science which studies the [[human]] condition, including past, present, and future; biology, society, language and culture.   

American Anthropology is usually divided into four separate disciplines, which overlap each other to varying degrees.  Most [[Europe]]an schools do not place [[archaeology]] in the anthropology field.

Anthropology in the [[United States]] is divided into four separate disciplines, which overlap each other to varying degrees.

'''Cultural anthropology''' is the study of human society and culture. Methods of research take a wide variety of forms, ranging from living among cultural groups to digging through American trash cans. Cultural anthropologists are currently in great demand by international corporations and the American Armed Forces.

===[[Cultural anthropology]]===

The study of human society and culture. Methods of research take a wide variety of forms, ranging from living among cultural groups to digging through American trash cans. Cultural anthropologists are currently in great demand by international corporations and the American Armed Forces.

'''Archaeology''' studies the material remains of cultures.  There are many subfields within archaeology.  Most archaeologists are involved in academia, studying a specific culture or cultural area's past.  There are also many applied archaeologists who work for contractor companies or the government to preserve archaeological sites around the world.

Recently, many ethnographers are working in their own societies, studying social interaction among [[immigration|immigrant]] workers, the societies of homeless people, and the lives of [[Wall Street]] investors.

'''Linguistic anthropology''' studies [[language]]s and their development. This is a relatively new field.

Cultural anthropology has several sub-fields, among them:

*[[Applied anthropology]]

*[[Political anthropology]]

::The study of the political process and institutions.

::The study of humanity, culture, and social settings from within an urban environment.  

'''Physical anthropology''' studies human variation etc. In many ways it is more akin to [[biology]] than to traditional anthropology. Much of its focus is on the [[muscle|musculature]], [[skeleton|skeletal]] structure, and [[neurology]] of primates.  Included in this field is forensic and medical anthropology. Forensic anthropology is using knowledge of [[bone]] structure, growth and [[taphonomy]] to aid in [[crime|criminal]] investigations. Medical anthropology is the study of health care systems and [[disease]] history.   

===[[Physical anthropology]]===

The study of ''Homo sapiens'' from a mainly-[[evolution]]ary point of view. Physical anthropologists are also trained in skeletal analysis, and forensic and medical anthropology, and are often called upon to assist in [[crime|criminal]] investigations.  Sub-fields include:

*[[Paleoanthropology]]

::A field related to Darwinian evolution, paleoanthropologists study human ancestry, including fossils, trackways and other trace remains prior to the written record.

*[[Forensic anthropology]]

::A science concerned with the ''post mortem'' identification of deceased persons, of which gathered evidence is used in a court of law.

::The study of human adaptations to the environment.

*[[Osteology]]

::The study of bones in a biocultural context, including birth, growth, development, age, and death.

*[[Paleopathology]]

 

The study [[language]]s, their development, and how they influence social life. Linguistic anthropology was once a sub-field of cultural anthropology.

 

===[[Archaeology]]===

The study of man through the material remains of cultures.  There are many subfields within archaeology.  Most archaeologists are involved in academia, studying a specific culture or cultural area's past.  There are also many applied archaeologists who work for contractor companies or the government to preserve archaeological sites around the world. 

== See also ==

== See also ==

* [[Biblical anthropology]]

* [[Biblical anthropology]]

[[Category:Anthropology| ]]

[[Category:Anthropology| ]]