2020-21

The course examines the following topics: Definition of primates, anatomy, origin, culture, recent and fossil primates, social structures and the origin of the family, primate locomotion, sexual dimorphism and systematics.

The course examines the following topics: Definition of bones. The evolution of the skeletal system. The skeleton of man. Bone histology: chemical structure, development and function of bones. Physiology of bones, osteons, hydroxyapatite and collagen, sex and age identification, calcification, fossilization, mummification and taphonomy, ancient history of diseases, paleopathology and ancient DNA.

Introduction to scientific thought, hypothesis, theory and law. The physical sciences in anthropology, history and archaeology. Ancient Greek evolutionists. The creation of the universe, the Big Bang, elementary particles. Galaxies and planetary systems. Plate tectonics. The evidence for evolution. Natural selection. Speciation, Darwinism and creationism. Mutations and chromosomal rearrangements. Evolutionary mechanisms and events up to the appearance of man on earth. The course is a pre-requisite for other courses in Physical Anthropology.

The course recounts, chiefly on the basis of archaeological finds, these two cultures that are related to one another. One succeeded the other and during the transitional period from one to the other covered the same ground.