Dictionary of Concepts in Physical Anthropology - (Reference Sources for the Social Sciences and Humanities) by Joan Stevenson (Hardcover)

About the Book

This reference dictionary takes a new approach to the study of physical anthropology by focusing on the concepts involved. As Stevenson notes at the outset, physical or biological anthropology is a synthetic discipline which has borrowed much from evolutionary biology, anatomy, genetics, medicine, zoology, paleontology, and demography. Thus, although none of the concepts are unique to the discipline, their relative importance and the contexts in which they are used may be. Here, Stevenson presents concise entries describing the development of physical anthropological concepts followed by bibliographies including most of the major works in the field.

The history of the usage of each concept is traced from its origins--often outside the discipline of physical anthropology--to the contemporary and usually multidisciplinary contexts in which physical anthropologists participate. Entries clearly delineate both the theoretical development of the concepts under discussion and their applications in physical anthropological practice. The comprehensive bibliographies enable the reader to pursue further study of concepts of particular interest. Indispensable to students just beginning their studies in the field, the dictionary will also be an invaluable reference for scholars and researchers.

Book Synopsis

This reference dictionary takes a new approach to the study of physical anthropology by focusing on the concepts involved. As Stevenson notes at the outset, physical or biological anthropology is a synthetic discipline which has borrowed much from evolutionary biology, anatomy, genetics, medicine, zoology, paleontology, and demography. Thus, although none of the concepts are unique to the discipline, their relative importance and the contexts in which they are used may be. Here, Stevenson presents concise entries describing the development of physical anthropological concepts followed by bibliographies including most of the major works in the field.

The history of the usage of each concept is traced from its origins--often outside the discipline of physical anthropology--to the contemporary and usually multidisciplinary contexts in which physical anthropologists participate. Entries clearly delineate both the theoretical development of the concepts under discussion and their applications in physical anthropological practice. The comprehensive bibliographies enable the reader to pursue further study of concepts of particular interest. Indispensable to students just beginning their studies in the field, the dictionary will also be an invaluable reference for scholars and researchers.

Review Quotes

.,."this volume will prove useful to those new to the field and will be a basic review for the more knowledgeable."-ARBA

?...this volume will prove useful to those new to the field and will be a basic review for the more knowledgeable.?-ARBA

?This dictionary describes 74 terms that Stevenson (anthropology, Western Washington University) considers to be the most important concepts from the discipline of physical anthropology. Terms were selected from introductory textbooks on the subject, and entries give the current meaning for each concept, a longer description of its development (which reads like a literature review), a list of references cited, and additional sources of information. Name and subject indexes follow. The concepts are very broad in nature. As is characteristic of dictionaries in this series, the reader is referred to a wealth of major writings on each concept and on important subtopics....Unique in its mission and coverage.?-Choice

..."this volume will prove useful to those new to the field and will be a basic review for the more knowledgeable."-ARBA

"This dictionary describes 74 terms that Stevenson (anthropology, Western Washington University) considers to be the most important concepts from the discipline of physical anthropology. Terms were selected from introductory textbooks on the subject, and entries give the current meaning for each concept, a longer description of its development (which reads like a literature review), a list of references cited, and additional sources of information. Name and subject indexes follow. The concepts are very broad in nature. As is characteristic of dictionaries in this series, the reader is referred to a wealth of major writings on each concept and on important subtopics....Unique in its mission and coverage."-Choice

About the Author

JOAN C. STEVENSON is Associate Professor of Anthropology at Western Washington University. She has published articles in journals such as Human Biology, International Journal of Anthropology, and American Journal of Physical Anthropology.