Anthropology

Anthropology by William A. Haviland; Harald E. L. Prins; Dana Walrath; Bunny McBride Explore the most fascinating, creative, dangerous, and complex species alive today: you and your neighbors in the global village. With compelling photos, engaging examples, and select studies by anthropologists in far-flung places, the authors of ANTHROPOLOGY: THE HUMAN CHALLENGE provide a holistic view of anthropology to help you make sense of today's world. You'll discover the different ways humans face the challenge of existence; the connection between biology and culture in the shaping of human behavior; and the impact of globalization on peoples and cultures around the world.

Anthropology by Robert H. Lavenda; Emily A. Schultz Anthropology: What Does It Mean to Be Human? takes a question-oriented approach that helps students understand current anthropological issues, consider them critically, and apply them to their own lives.A unique alternative to more traditional, encyclopedic introductory texts, Anthropology: What Does It Mean to Be Human? takes a question-oriented approach that illuminates major concepts for students. Structuring each chapter around an important question, the authors explore what it means to behuman, incorporating answers from all four major subfields of anthropology - cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and archaeology - and offering a more balanced perspective than other texts. They address central issues of the discipline, highlighting thecontroversies and commitments that are shaping contemporary anthropology.

Anthropology for Dummies by Cameron M Smith Study the science of all of us  Anthropology is the organized study of what makes humans human. It takes an objective step back to view homo sapiens as a species and ask questions like: Given our common characteristics, why aren't all of us exactly the same? Why do people across the world have variable skin and hair color and so many inventive ways to say hello? And how can knowing the reasons behind our differences--as well as our similarities--teach us useful lessons for the future? The updated edition of Anthropology For Dummies gives you a panoramic view of the fascinating fieldwork and theory that seeks to answer these questions--and helps you view the human world through impartial, anthropological eyes.   Keeping the jargon to a minimum, Anthropology For Dummies explores the four main subdivisions of the discipline, from the adventurous Indiana Jones territory of archaeology and the hands-on biological insights provided by our physical nature to the studious book-cracking brainwork of cultural and linguistic investigation. Along the way, you'll journey deep into our prehistory where we begin to differentiate ourselves from our primate relatives--and then fast forward into the possibilities of centuries yet to come.  Explore the history of anthropology and apply its methods  Get a deep, scientific take on contemporary debates such as identity  Excavate the human past through new fossil discoveries  Peer into humanity's future in space  Whether you're studying anthropology for school or just want to know more about what makes us humans who we are, this is the perfect introduction to humanity's past and present--and a clue to what we need to build a better future.  

The Bone Lady by Mary H. Manhein ?On the first day of the search, I failed to find the body.? So writes forensic anthropologist and bioarchaeologist Mary H. Manhein?or ?the bone lady,? as law enforcement personnel call her. In this, one of dozens of stories recollected in her powerful memoir, Manhein and the state police eventually unearth a black plastic bag buried in the banks of the Mississippi River containing the body of a man who has been missing for five years. After the painstaking process of examining the remains, confirming the victim?s identity, and preparing a formal report for the police, Manhein testifies for the prosecution at the murder trial. The defendant is convicted (in no small part because of Manhein), and ?the bone lady? has helped solve yet another mystery. As director of the Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services (FACES) Laboratory at Louisiana State University, Manhein unravels mysteries of life and death every day. In The Bone Lady, she shares, with the compassion and humor of a born storyteller, many fascinating cases that include the science underlying her analyses as well as the human stories behind the remains. Manhein, an expert on the human skeleton, assists law enforcement by providing profiles of remains that narrow the identification process when the traditional means used by medical examiners or coroners to conduct autopsies are no longer applicable?simply put, when bones are all that are left to tell the story. She assesses age, sex, race, height, signs of trauma, and time since death, and creates clay facial reconstructions. Although Manhein enjoys solving high-profile cases, her personal crusade is identifying the John and Jane Does who wait in her lab. Manhein?s own words perfectly characterize her mission: ?Identifying a victim can bring peace of mind to the family and can help them to go on with their lives. Sometimes, peace of mind is the only gift that I can give.?

Forensic Anthropology by Amy Sterling Casil Forensic anthropologists sometimes call themselves "speakers for the dead." They study human remains to help solve crimes, identify missing persons, and discover the identity of unidentified remains. Forensic anthropologists can work with law enforcement and other government agencies. They can also travel around the world to recover and analyze remains. They can work as part of archaeological teams to discover what happened at the site of an ancient battle, help to confirm the identity of a famous person from historical times, or help to identify people who have lost their lives in a plane crash or other disaster. Forensic anthropology began in the early 20th century and continues to evolve today, using DNA analysis and data to reveal the appearance, the identity, and potentially the cause of death of human remains.