In what ways are physical anthropology and archaeology multidisciplinary?

Albert Einstein once stated, “The more I know the more I know nothing.” This theory can be applied to almost every educational field but certainly in the field of anthropology. Within the four sub-fields, physical anthropology and archaeology are amass with multiple disciplines in each. The reason for this goes back to Einstein’s quote: the field of anthropology is so vast that anthropologists cannot hope to cover the entire field with any intent of successful research. The information is too vast.

            The subfields of archaeology are easier to understand in the idea that with parts of the world come different sections of archaeology. Egyptologists, for example, would not be working in the Antarctic on a regular basis. Classicists, Near Eastern archaeologists, paleontology archaeologists, and marine archaeologists all have different skill-sets and education needed to become the best researches possible. Even within these fields, archaeological finds can be puzzling and may require the advice of another expert such as a culture archaeologist or a linguist.

            In physical anthropology you fall into many of the same concerns regarding the vast amount of knowledge, experts are required by common sense to choose a specific emphasis. The most notable sub-discipline in physical anthropology comes from forensics (Newall); an excellent example of this is the Body Farm at the University of Tennessee. But even at the research facility, there are entomologists, forensic specialists, environmentalists, and biologists. All of these fields work together at the Body Farm to achieve a single objection: The study of human remains decomposition.

            The importance of understanding the concept of these multidisciplinary fields is that any one research project or excavation is filled with a multitude of specialists working towards a single goal. In evaluating the results from these projects, there is a certain level of academic debate that will go into every outcome, simply because of the amount of opinions combed through to reach a single decision. 

Do Chimpanzees Communicate?

Chimpanzees have been discovered to be very similar to humans in many ways – some statistics state a similarity as high as 95-99%. Jane Goodall’s research on the communication of chimpanzees has come to show that chimpanzees use verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal calls for alarm, mating, and greetings can be heard for over a mile.  Chimps also have distinctive calls when in fear or confusion. Young chimps have been recorded making ‘laughing’ sounds.
There are also a great many non-verbal communications that have been recorded. Most obviously, the dominant versus submissive postures such as crouching. Chimpanzees use a form of social grooming to emphasize friendships. Humans have very similar verbal and non-verbal communication; no matter the culture there are universal calls that are instinctive. These include laughter and crying. While chimpanzees do not have a phonetic vocabulary like humans, it is obvious through watching any interaction between chimpanzees a clear and universal system of communication exists in the species. 

The Laetoli Footprints

The Laetoli Footprints we found by Mary Leakey and her team in 1978 in Laetoli, Tanzania. The footprints are claimed to be made by the Australopithecus afarensis like Lucy. The Footprints date approximately 3.6 million years ago. They suggest two early bipedals walking closely together. Because of the relative steps of the two creatures some archaeologists claim that the early primates may have been holding hands. The presence of the very human like big toe suggest the feet of these creatures to be more human than ape and the tracks possess characteristics suggesting these creatures walked heel-to-toe – as modern humans do today.

Dr. Donald Johanson and "Lusy"

“Lucy” was the familial name given to the Australopithecus afarensis skeleton found in the late 1970’s by Donald Johanson. Lucy and her species lived between 4.2 to 3.5 million years ago, she is estimated to be approximately 42”-48” tall and weigh between 45-55 pounds. Because the skeleton was found 40% intact, the majority of the skeletal structure of the Australopithecus afarensis can be identified. The knees and the pelvis of Lucy and the companions found at the same site suggest they were fully bipedal and walked on two legs. This is a huge development in the argument of evolution, as it shows a link between the quadropedal monkeys and the bipedal homo sapiens.

Introduction to Primatology

Primatology is the study of primates, specifically including prosimii and anthropoidea (New world and Old world monkeys, greater and lesser apes, and the study of humans as primates.) Primatology is a specific field of anthropology which covers all four sub-fields depending on the emphasis of study. Field work done in primatology is done by paleoanthropologists (Donald Johanson), primatologists (Jane Goodall), and primate paleontologists.