Key differences between Archeology and Anthropology: Which is the right discipline for your research?
What is archaeology?
La archeology It is the science in charge of studying the societies or cultures that existed in the past through the material remains they have left. These remains can be objects, buildings, writings, among others. The main objective of archeology is to understand how these societies lived, what their traditions and customs were, as well as their social and political organization.
What is anthropology?
La anthropology It is the science in charge of studying the human being as a whole. That is, its objective is to study from biological to sociocultural aspects. Anthropology seeks to understand human cultural diversity, its biological and cultural evolution, as well as the different forms of social organization.
Differences between archeology and anthropology
Although both sciences are related to the study of the human past, there are some differences between them. Below are some of the Main differences:
object of study
Archeology focuses on the study of the material remains of past cultures, while anthropology studies the human being as a whole, that is, both the biological and cultural and social aspects.
Temporal focus
Archeology focuses on the past, while anthropology studies both the human past and present.
Study methods
Archeology is based on the collection and analysis of objects and material remains, while anthropology uses various study methods such as participant observation and interviews.
Objectives
Archeology seeks to understand how cultures of the past lived, while anthropology seeks to understand human cultural diversity and the different forms of social organization both in the past and present.
Conclusion
In summary, although archeology and anthropology are related to the study of the human past, they present differences in terms of their object of study, temporal focus, and study methods. Both sciences are important to understand how humanity has evolved and how different cultures have developed throughout of history.
Bibliography
- Sánchez, J. (2016). Introduction to archeology. Madrid: Synthesis.
- Castells, C. (2017). Introduction to social and cultural anthropology. Barcelona: UOC.
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