RadicalAnthro

RadicalAnthro, 6 days ago to Seinfeld

A few years old but a very neat piece from evolutionary #anthropologist Karen #Kramer. How do children learn best? Packed into same-age classrooms listening to an adult?

'...work among with the Pumé of Venezuela and the Maya living in the Yucatan Peninsula—resoundingly suggests that they learn from one another.'
...
'IN THE CHILD-populous world of hunter-gatherers, little separates the spheres of adults and children. The places they work, play, relax, and sleep are not segregated. Privacy, alone time, and adult-only spaces are concepts unknown to the Pumé, for example. They live in open-walled structures that children freely run in and out of without requesting entry. Pumé children also aren’t restricted from what might be considered adult spaces and activities, such as menstrual huts (special structures where women in many traditional societies go for the few days a month when they menstruate), watching births, being around the dying, or participating in all-night social dances, called tohé, where the band joins together to sing, conduct healings, and tell stories.'

#education #childcare #childdevelopment #play #Pumé #huntergatherers #anthropology

https://www.sapiens.org/culture/children-social-learning/

RadicalAnthro, 9 days ago to random

This is something to look forward to: a new book from the brilliant Tyson #Yunkaporta. His first one, #SandTalk, was a great read, don't miss it! Among the enduring visions was 'cooking up wombat' in the derelict ruins of the Canberra Parliament building in some not-too-distant future as we discover which civilization is the more resilient.
Also a very funny critique of Stonehenge, and the Weird West, right on the button!

#Indigenous #AboriginalandTorresStraitIslander

RadicalAnthro, 10 days ago to random

Cohorts of US women and girls between 1950 to 2005 show significant earlier #menarche with more girls menstruating for the first before age 11.

Higher body fat percentage or BMI may be factors, but also possible is environmental exposure to #endocrine-disruptive chemicals.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/29/us-girls-first-periods-earlier

RadicalAnthro, 11 days ago to random

Studious atmosphere at the Radcliffe Camera #OxfordActionforPalestine camp

#ceasefirenow #GazaGenocide #DiscloseDivest

RadicalAnthro, 11 days ago to delhi

#ClimateDiary
#Delhi hits its highest ever recorded temperature: 49.9 degrees.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/india-s-capital-records-highest-ever-temperature-at-499-deg-c

RadicalAnthro, 11 days ago to Anthropology

Evolution podcast with #UCLAnthropology's Ruth #Mace: 'Evolution can explain why humans are such weird animals'

#humanevolution #anthropology
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/bigideas/humans-evolution-modern-culture/103778516

RadicalAnthro, 12 days ago to Futurology

A thing of beauty.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/study-reveals-unseen-details-human-brain-structure

#electronmicroscopy #brain #neuron #synapses

RadicalAnthro, 12 days ago to random

This research is really sweet -- showing the size and complexity of ancient #African #huntergatherer networks, before farming.

Hunter-gatherer groups in the Congo maintained social networks across vast distances thousands of years before agriculture arrived. The cultural diversity is shown in musical instruments, specialist vocabulary and genetic analyses.

https://www.news.uzh.ch/en/articles/media/2024/Hunter-Gatherers.html

RadicalAnthro, 13 days ago to random

Study of expressions for the 'taboo topic' of #menstruation in Dutch, German, and Mandarin Chinese. Analyzing each expression according to the X-phemistic mechanisms and, if applicable, the metaphorical source domains or metonymic vehicles at its origin.

#metaphor #sociolinguistics #taboo
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/language-and-cognition/article/women-blood-and-dangerous-things-sociocultural-variation-in-the-conceptualization-of-menstruation/237909774A715FADE12F617C349DF807

RadicalAnthro, 15 days ago to Anthropology

More discussion on that preprint (yes just a preprint and getting Nature commentary!) about when exactly did the #Neanderthal gene flow into modern humans happen. Acc to Iasi et al, from 47 Ka for about 6000 years. Interesting here is the 'introgression deserts' with immediate selection against Nean genes for certain areas.

#genomics #anthropology #Homosapiens #evolution

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01452-3

RadicalAnthro, 17 days ago to random

'Periodical #cicadas are unique insects that have a 13-year or a 17-year life cycle, most of which they spend underground. They come to the surface in groups that scientists call broods.

Each brood with its descendants is named in a Roman number. This year, Brood XIX and Brood XIII are emerging together. The last time these particular broods emerged in the same year was two centuries ago in 1803.
...
This is what they sound like'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-69041449

RadicalAnthro, 17 days ago to worldwithoutus

On the amazing work by Jennifer #Miller and Yiming #Wang on #ostricheggshell #bead networks across #Africa 50,000 years ago

#MiddleStoneAge #archaeology

https://www.heriuct.co.za/news-content/beads-reveal-our-ancient-connections-across-africa

RadicalAnthro, 17 days ago to australia

A stopping point on the way to Australia? 'thousands of stone artefacts and animal bones in a deep cave in Timor Island has shed light on the timing and nature of early human migrations through Indonesia to Australia.'
...
"The site of Laili is especially fascinating as it demonstrates a large human population settled on the island between 49-43,000 years ago,” Griffith University’s Research Fellow Kasih Norman

'The occupation of Laili therefore appears to be part of the large-scale migration of modern humans that took place across the globe between 70-40,000 years ago.'

#Timor #Australia #Sahul #migration #Laili #Pleistocene #archaeology
https://news.griffith.edu.au/2024/05/23/excavation-reveals-major-ancient-migration-to-timor-island/

RadicalAnthro, 18 days ago to Egalitarianism

A decent summary of the discussion over shrinkage of brain size in Homo sapiens in the past 100,000 years.

One very strong point is made by Eva #Jablonka, linking reduction of brain size to stratification and class society:
'Jablonka argues that if even if brains did shrink when complex societies emerged, it doesn't necessarily follow that smaller brains were necessarily an adaptive response.
"If 3,000 years ago much larger more complex societies emerged, this could correlate with much greater differences in social classes. If, as a consequence the majority of people were poor, then we know that poverty and malnutrition and things like that would compromise the developing brain."'

We would agree, metabolic and energetic/nutrient constraint is likely important. Marta #Lahr also suggests a link to nutrient deficiency associating to onset of agriculture.

A significant implication is that the super large brains of our ancestors came about through #egalitarianism and strong ethics of #sharing vital nutrients to mothers and children.

#brainsize #humanorigins #evolution #anthropology

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240517-the-human-brain-has-been-shrinking-and-no-one-quite-knows-why

RadicalAnthro, 18 days ago to london

Good morning from Sarf #London

This magnificent #megalosaur, modelled in the 1850s, was at the time believed to quadrupedal.

#CrystalPalace #dinosaurs

RadicalAnthro, 19 days ago to eagles

Greater spotted #eagles changed their #migration routes to avoid the Ukraine war.

'researchers believe the Greater Spotted Eagles skirted around dangers including artillery fire, jets and tanks as well as buildups of troops.'
...
'The findings reveal they made large deviations from their previously tracked routes. They also spent less time stopping at their usual refuelling sites in Ukraine or avoided them entirely.
'As a result, they traveled farther, about an extra 52 miles (85km) on average.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c88z0p33413o

RadicalAnthro, 19 days ago to random

Great news that #AndrewFeinstein is going to stand against genocide complicit #Starmer in the Holborn/StPancras constituency in the UK General Election this year

https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/uk-andrew-feinstein-starmer-challenge-politics-hope-rekindle

RadicalAnthro, 21 days ago to random

More on #vocalisation

'The past decade has seen an explosion of new research into some of the most fascinating sounds in the sea: the vocalisations of #whales and #dolphins.'

https://theconversation.com/are-we-really-about-to-talk-to-whales-229778

RadicalAnthro, 21 days ago to london

Amazing lineup stand under the new
'Holocaust survivor descendants against Gaza genocide!' banner on yesterday's march in #London commemorating Nakba.

We are very proud of Mark (standing rhs of the left banner pole) who has brought this network together. They attend all the marches and actions.

#GazaGenocide #nakba76 #holocaustsurvivor

RadicalAnthro, 23 days ago to Rabbits

Jack says have a floofy #BunnyButtFriday!

#RadicalAnthropologyRabbits
#rabbitsofmastodon

RadicalAnthro, 23 days ago to random

March in London tomorrow, meeting points:
#JewishBloc #studentcamps

#PalestineNakba76

Jewish bloc says 'Stop the GENOCIDE' meets Cavendish Sq W1G 0PW (corner Margaret St) May 18, 11.45am

RadicalAnthro, 24 days ago to climate

Great tit breeding season in #WythamWoods, ultra reliable indicator of #climatechange

#climatediary

https://theconversation.com/the-great-tits-in-this-oxford-wood-are-adapting-their-breeding-times-as-climate-changes-heres-how-224172?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1715276269

RadicalAnthro, 25 days ago to Anthropology

Free community #fediscience -- please boost!
Don't miss TONIGHT 👇🌔🌕

Our last session before summer is
ZOOM only

🌔Tues May 21, 6:30pm London time🌕

Morna #Finnegan on
'Remember who you are: kinship in an age of crisis'

Everyone welcome to join us on
ZOOM ID 384 186 2174 passcode Wawilak

#anthropology #gender #kinship #body

RadicalAnthro, 26 days ago to random

Got our mits on it! And chuffed to get mentions in the text!

#FatherTime #SarahHrdy