5 of 12

Write now Article Tools

By definition, archaeology is a branch of anthropology. However, outside of North America, archaeology is often considered a related, but separate field from anthropology.

Anthropologists study humans, their origins, behavior, physical, social, and cultural development. Archaeologists focus on historic and prehistoric humans, relying on recovery and examination of physical remains to draw conclusions about origins and development. A large number of the non-teaching jobs in anthropology are in the area of archaeology.

Anthropology can be divided into four fields-biological-physical, socio-cultural, linguistics, and archaeology. However, some anthropologists dispute this approach. Archaeology can be divided into similar categories, as well as a wide variety of subdisciplines.

Biological-phys ical anthropology focuses on the physical aspects of humans, studying areas such as evolution, genetics, and nutrition.

Socio-cultural anthropology focuses on the cultural and social organization of particular groups of humans, including language, folklore, religion, political organization, patterns of consumption, family structure, child rearing, and gender relations.

Linguistic anthropology focuses on human communication, including verbal and non-verbal and their relationship to the development of culture.

Archaeology focuses on the recovery and study of artifacts created by historic and prehistoric humans.

Critics of the four-field approach to anthropology suggest that the division inappropriately applies the rules of scientific positivism to socio-cultural anthropology in particular. Positivism requires strict application of the quantitative scientific method.

Anthropology as a whole is a methodologically diverse discipline, applying both qualitative (subjective) and quantitative (objective) methods. Qualitative research includes participation, direct observation, in-depth interviews, and analysis of documents and materials. Quantitative research employs systematic scientific investigation with the intent of applying mathematical models, hypotheses, and theories to natural phenomena.

Qualitative methods may seem more appropriate to socio-cultural focuses as quantitative methods would apply to biological-physical focuses. However, many cross-disciplines of anthropology, including subdisciplines of archaeology, use both approaches.

Whether or not we consider archaeology as a branch of anthropology or simply as a related field, the fact remains that both areas of study focus on humans, who we are, what we believe, where we live, why we do the things we do and make the things we make, and a multitude of endless questions as we seek to understand ourselves.

Learn more about this author, Sara Mcgrath.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The difference between anthropology and archaeology explained?
We want to hear your view. Write now!