Glossary
Glossary of terms
Physical Anthropology: this is an umbrella term describing the traditional study of the biology of human beings, and is one of the traditional sub-topics of study within anthropology (the others are archaeology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics).
Biological Anthropology: this is a newer term that is basically interchangeable with physical anthropology.
Human evolution: this is the study of fossile humans and may or may not include fossile primates.
Osteology: the study of the human skeleton.
Paleopathology: this is the study of disease in the past, which includes disease and nutrition in fossil skeletons as well as more recent forms.
Bioarchaeology: the study of human remains in the archaeological or cultural context; can include the archaeological formation of skeletal remains.
Forensic anthropology: this is the study of human remains and/or the skeleton in a criminal context.
links checked May 21, 2009
Prepared by Lisa Craig-Young as
a requirement of LS 5573
at Texas Woman's University School
of Library and Information Studies
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