Anthropology is no longer about the strange customs of exotic people (if it ever really was). To-day anthropology examines broad questions about the human species throughout its entire history and in all its biological and cultural variety. A question central to the anthropological endeavor is how our species, a product of the material forces of evolution like other species, has nevertheless become utterly dependent on systems of symbols for its continued survival, we find the anthropological (both from, physical, cultural) explanation exciting and challenging.
To a great extent, the power and appeal of anthropology in the contemporary world lies precisely in its ability to offer sophisticated bio-cultural explanations of similarity and diversity in the human species. Traditional anthropological holism thus provides a valuable antidote to specialized studies that downplay or ignore the wider context within which our species and its history must be situated. A course in Anthropology (here physical or Biological or Human Evolution and culture in post graduate degree) is particularly important for university & college students, many of whom told me that the holistic comparative, and evolutionary frame work it provides has helped them enormously in interrelating their course work in other discipline. Anthropology is the original interdisciplinary discipline that continues to provide a perspective on the human condition from its origin to present that combines insights from the natural sciences, the Social Science and the Humanities.
This book basically written for the students of Anthropology on the basis of their syllabus in M.A. Second year. This is the first kind of book written for our students by the professor who has been teaching this particular subject since more than two decades.
Anthropology is becoming popular day by day and there are several campuses where anthropology is taught. But there is a dearth of text written which can benefit students. I have tried to go extensively further beyond syllabus because the past history of mankind is very important to know. All human beings share a common biological heritage that determines much of our behavior, placing at least some limits on our physical and intellectual accomplishments.
Sine many introductory students may not encounter another anthropology course, beyond this one, I have also tried to convey how anthropological thinking can be applied to help answer significant question. Not just how but why do people differ at ever level, from molecules to behaviors? How much of our behavior, if any, is built into us. The uniqueness of anthropology lies so much in data, which often come from other discipline as in the way of analyzing and interrelating the data. I hope that the comparative, Evolutionary view of human behavior and existence comes through in the book and that readers will draw upon perspective in analyzing current and future issues.
The second part of the book contains some important aspects of prehistory and anthropological archaeology. It concern with basic components of prehistory. I hope that this book will help students to a greater extent to fulfil their course requirements and enhance their knowledge regarding the story of human evolution and prehistoric culture.