UGC/NTA Net – Anthropology

Unit 1: Fundamentals of Anthropology

  1. Overview and Scope of Anthropology
    1. History, development, aim, and scope of Anthropology
    2. Relationship with other sciences
    3. Different branches of Anthropology (including Linguistic Anthropology) and their interrelationship
  2. Research Methodology and Methods
    1. Concepts of epistemology, ontology, and theoretical perspectives
    2. Types of research: qualitative and quantitative
    3. Research design and hypothesis
  3. Fieldwork and Fieldwork Tradition
    1. Ethnography, Observation, Interview
    2. Case Study, Life History, Focus group
    3. PRA, RRA, Genealogical Method
    4. Schedules and Questionnaires
    5. Grounded Theory, Exploration and Excavation, GIS
  4. Statistics
    1. Concept of variables and sampling
    2. Measures of central tendency and dispersion
    3. Parametric and nonparametric tests
    4. Bivariate and multivariate statistical tests (linear regression and logistic regression)
  5. Techniques of Analysis
    1. Content analysis
    2. Discourse analysis
    3. Narratives

Unit 2: Evolution

  1. Theories of Evolution
    1. Lamarckism, Neo-Lamarckism
    2. Darwinism, Neo-Darwinism
    3. Synthetic theory
    4. Neutral theory of molecular evolution
    5. Concepts of cladogenesis and anagenesis
    6. Punctuated equilibrium
    7. Selection
  2. Primate Radiation
    1. Trends in Primate radiation
    2. Primate classification and distribution of extinct and extant species
  3. Characteristics of Primates
    1. Morphological characteristics (e.g., hair)
    2. Skeletal characteristics (cranial, post-cranial, dental, brain)
    3. Physical characteristics (opposability of thumb)
    4. Locomotion (quadrupedalism, brachiation, bipedalism) and posture
    5. Primate social behaviour
  4. Extant Primates
    1. Distribution, characteristics, and classification
    2. Prosimii:
      1. Tarsiioidea
      2. Lorisoidea
      3. Lemuroidea
    3. Anthropoidea:
      1. Ceboidea
      2. Cercopithecoidea
      3. Hominoidea
    4. Morphological and anatomical characteristics of Human, Chimpanzee, Gorilla, Orangutan, and Gibbon
  5. Fossils of Extinct Primates
    1. Oligocene-Miocene fossils: Parapithecus, Gigantopithecus, Aegyptopithecus, Dryopithecus, Ramapithecus, Sivapithecus
  6. Pre-Hominid Groups
    1. Sahelanthropus tchadensis (Toumai)
    2. Orrorin tugenensis
    3. Ardipithecus ramidus
  7. Early Hominids
    1. Australopithecus afarensis
    2. Australopithecus ramidus
    3. Australopithecus africanus
    4. Australopithecus (Paranthropous) boisei
    5. Australopithecus (Paranthropous) robustus
    6. Australopithecus bahrelghazali
  8. Early Transitional Human
    1. Homo habilis
  9. Hominid Evolution
    1. Characteristics and distribution of Homo erectus
    2. Fossil evidence:
      1. Africa (Turkana boy)
      2. Asia (Java man and Peking man)
      3. Europe (Dmanisi)
    3. Homo floresiensis (Dwarf variety)
  10. Archaic Sapiens
    1. Europe (Homo heidelbergensis)
    2. Africa (Rhodesian Man)
    3. Asia (China, Jinniushan, India, Narmada Man)
  11. Neandertal Man
    1. Distribution
    2. Salient features
    3. Phylogenetic position
  12. Anatomically Modern Homo Sapiens
    1. Africa (Omo)
    2. Europe (Cro-magnon, Chancelade, Grimaldi)
    3. Asia (Jinniushan)
    4. Australia (Lake Mungo)
  13. Dispersal of Modern Humans
    1. Out of Africa hypothesis
    2. Multiregional hypothesis
    3. Partial Replacement hypothesis

Unit 3: Modern Human Variation

  1. Models of Human Variation
    1. Typological Model
    2. Populational Model
    3. Clinal Model
    4. Overview of Classification proposed by Blumenbach, Deniker, Hooton, Coon, Garn, and Birdsell
  2. Ethnic Classification and Distribution of Indian Populations
    1. H. Risley
    2. S. Guha
    3. S. Sarkar
  3. Linguistic distribution of ethnic groups
  4. Methods of Studying Human Genetics
    1. Cytogenetics
    2. Mendelian Genetics
    3. Twin Genetics
    4. Sib Pair methods
    5. Population Genetics
    6. Molecular Genetics
  5. Cytogenetics
    1. Cell cycle
    2. Standard karyotyping and banding techniques (G, C, and Q)
    3. Chromosomal abnormalities
    4. Fluorescent in situ hybridization
    5. Lyon’s hypothesis
    6. Importance of telomere and centromere
  6. Linkage and chromosome mapping, genetic imprinting
  7. Modes of Inheritance
    1. Autosomal (dominant, recessive, codominance)
    2. Sex-linked, sex-influenced, and sex-limited inheritance
    3. Modifying genes, suppressor genes, selfish gene
    4. Multiple allelic inheritance
    5. Multifactorial inheritance (stature and skin colour)
    6. Polygenic inheritance
  8. Dermatoglyphics
    1. Finger-ball Pattern types
    2. Dankmeijer’s Index
    3. Furuhata’s Index
    4. Pattern Intensity Index
    5. Total Finger Ridge Count
    6. Absolute Finger Ridge Count
    7. Palmar formula and mainline index
    8. Transversality
    9. atd angle and flexion creases
  9. Population Genetics
    1. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium: definition and application
    2. Mating patterns: random, assortative, and consanguineous
    3. Inbreeding coefficient
    4. Genetic load
    5. Genetic isolate
    6. Genetic drift
    7. Genetic distance
    8. Genetic polymorphism (balanced and transient)
  10. Molecular Genetics
    1. DNA, RNA, genetic code, and protein structure and synthesis
    2. Concepts of RFLPs, VNTRs, STRs, and SNPs
    3. Mitochondrial DNA
    4. Genic and genomic mutations

Unit 4: Human Growth, Development and Maturation

  1. Concepts and Principles of Growth
    1. Definition and basic principles of growth
    2. Phases of growth: Prenatal and postnatal
    3. Growth and development of different body parts, subcutaneous tissues, and physiological variables
  2. Growth Curves
    1. Velocity curve
    2. Distance curve
    3. Acceleration curve
    4. Scammon’s Growth curve
    5. Catch up and Catch down growth
  3. Aging and Senescence
    1. Somatic, skeletal, and dental maturation
    2. Factors affecting growth: Genetic and Environmental
    3. Secular trends in growth
  4. Methods of Studying Human Growth
    1. Longitudinal studies
    2. Cross-sectional studies
    3. Mixed longitudinal studies
    4. Linked longitudinal studies
  5. Body Composition
    1. Bone mass
    2. Body mass
    3. Percentage of body fat
    4. Segmental fat
    5. Body age
  6. Human Adaptation
    1. Allen’s and Bergmann’s rule
    2. Human Adaptability Programme
    3. Adaptation to heat, cold, and high altitude
  7. Somatotyping
    1. Concept and Development
    2. Approaches: Kretschmer, Sheldon, Parnoll, Health-Carter
    3. Applications
  8. Demography
    1. Multidisciplinary nature and relation with other disciplines
    2. Relationship between demography and anthropological demography
    3. Key components:
      1. Fertility: Concept and determinants
      2. Morbidity and mortality: Concept and determinants
      3. Migration: Concept and determinants
      4. Selection intensity
Concept of Prehistoric Archaeology
  1. Specialized Areas of Archaeology
    1. Ethno-archaeology
    2. Experimental archaeology
    3. Environmental archaeology
    4. Settlement archaeology
    5. Cognitive archaeology
    6. Geo-archaeology
    7. Action archaeology
  2. Theoretical Paradigms
    1. Descriptive period
    2. Scientific period
    3. Interpretative period
  3. Dating Techniques
    1. Typology
    2. Seriation
    3. Geo-archaeological techniques
    4. Obsidian hydration
    5. Chemical dating of bones
    6. Oxygen isotope analysis
    7. Fluorine estimation
    8. Dendrochronology
    9. Radiocarbon dating
    10. Fission track dating
    11. Thermo-luminescence
    12. Potassium-argon dating
    13. Varve clay analysis
    14. Cross-dating
    15. Amino acid racemization
    16. Palaeomagnetic dating
  4. Paleoenvironment and Climatic Changes
    1. Major geological stages: Tertiary, Quaternary, Pleistocene, Holocene
    2. Climatic changes: Glacial and interglacial periods, ice age, pluvial and inter-pluvial phases
    3. Evidence of Quaternary climatic changes:
      1. Moraines
      2. Varve
      3. River terraces
      4. Loess
      5. Sea level changes
      6. Beach sequences
      7. Sea core
      8. Fluviatile deposits
      9. Palynology
      10. Palaeontology
    4. Site formation
  5. Lithic Tool Typology and Technology
    1. Lower Palaeolithic:
      1. Pebble tools
      2. Chopper and chopping tools
      3. Bifaces
      4. Handaxes and cleavers
    2. Middle Palaeolithic:
      1. Clactonian tools
      2. Levalloisian flakes
      3. Mousterian flakes
      4. Discoid cores
      5. Tortoise core
      6. Fluted core
      7. Scrapers and points
    3. Upper Palaeolithic:
      1. Blades
      2. Knives
      3. Blunted back tools
      4. Borers
      5. Burins
      6. Points
    4. Mesolithic: Microliths
    5. Neolithic: Ring stone, grindstone, celt, adze
  6. Overview of Lithic Cultures of Europe
    1. Lower Palaeolithic: Acheulian culture
    2. Middle Palaeolithic: Mousterian culture
    3. Upper Palaeolithic:
      1. Perigordian
      2. Chatelperronian
      3. Gravettian
      4. Aurignacian
      5. Solutrian
      6. Magdalenian
    4. Mesolithic:
      1. Azilian
      2. Tardenoisean
      3. Maglemosian
      4. Kitchen Midden
      5. Natufian
    5. Early Farming Cultures and Neolithic of the Near East
      1. Sites: Jericho, Jarmo, Çatal Huyuk, Shanidar

Unit 6: Lower Palaeolithic Period in India

  1. Lower Palaeolithic Period
    1. Pebble tool culture: Soan Acheulian culture
    2. Madrasian (Kortalayar Valley)
    3. Key sites:
      1. Attirampakkam
      2. Didwana
      3. Belan Valley
      4. Bhimbetka
      5. Chirki-Nevasa
      6. Hunsgi
      7. Krishna Valley
    4. Importance of Hathnora, Narmada Valley
  2. Middle Palaeolithic Period
    1. Key sites: Belan Valley, Bhimbetka, Nevasa, Narmada Valley
  3. Upper Palaeolithic Period
    1. Key sites: Renigunta, Billa Surgam, Patne, Bhimbetka, Son and Belan Valleys, Visadi, Pushkar, Gunjan Valley
  4. Mesolithic Period
    1. Economy and society
    2. Post-Pleistocene environmental changes
    3. Development in microlithic technology
    4. Composite tools and bows and arrows
    5. Key sites:
      1. Bagor
      2. Tilwara
      3. Langhnaj
      4. Adamgarh
      5. Chopani Mando
      6. Sarai Nahar Rai
      7. Birbhanpur
    6. Neolithic Period
      1. Economic and social consequences of food production
      2. Settlements, population growth, craft specializations, class formation, and political institutions
      3. Key sites: Burzahom, Gufkral, Ahar, Gilund, Nagada, Kayatha, Navdatoli, Eran, Nevasa, Chandoli, Daimabad, Inamgaon, Prakash, Maski, Brahmagiri, Sangankallu, Tekkalkota, Piklihal, Nagarjunakonda, Daojali Hading, Kuchai, Sarutadu
    7. Prehistoric Cave Art from India
      1. Bhimbetka
      2. Adamgarh
    8. Indus Civilization
      1. Expansion of village sites
      2. Development of metal technology, art, and writing
      3. Architecture and city planning
      4. Stages and theories of decline
      5. Key sites: Amri, Kot Diji, Kalibangan, Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi
    9. Pottery and Traditions
      1. Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP)
      2. Black and Red Ware
      3. Painted Grey Ware (PGW)
      4. Northern Black Polished Ware (NBP)
      5. Distribution and period of pottery types
    10. Bronze/Copper Age
      1. General characteristics
      2. Distribution
      3. People
    11. Iron Age and Urban Revolution
      1. General characteristics
      2. Distribution
      3. People
    12. Megaliths
      1. Concept and types:
        1. Menhir
        2. Dolmen
        3. Topical
        4. Cist
        5. Cairn circle
        6. Sarcophagi

Unit 7: Conceptual Understanding of Social Anthropology

  1. Culture
    1. Attributes
    2. Holism
    3. Universals
    4. Acculturation
    5. Enculturation
    6. Transculturation
    7. Culture Change
    8. Culture Shock
    9. Cultural Relativism
    10. Civilization
    11. Folk-Urban Continuum
    12. Great and Little Tradition
    13. Cultural Pluralism
    14. World-View
  2. Society
    1. Groups
    2. Institutions
    3. Associations
    4. Community
    5. Status and Role
    6. Incest
    7. Endogamy and Exogamy
    8. Rites of Passage
  3. Social Institutions
    1. Family
      1. Definitions and universality
      2. Typological and Processual methods of study
      3. Types of family: Conjugal-natal, Consanguineal, Nuclear, Joint, Extended
      4. Rules of residence: Patrilocal, Matrilocal, Ambilocal, Bilocal, Neolocal, Avunculocal, Virilocal, Amitalocal, Uxorilocal
      5. Functions of family
      6. Trends of change: Urbanization, Globalization, Industrialization, Feminist movements
    2. Marriage
      1. Definition and universality
      2. Types and functions:
        1. Monogamy
        2. Polygamy (Polyandry, Polygyny)
        3. Hypogamy
        4. Hypergamy
        5. Levirate
        6. Sororate
      3. Preferential and Prescriptive types
      4. Marital transactions: Bride price, Dowry, Marriage as exchange
    3. Kinship
      1. Definition and Descent
      2. Kinship terminology
      3. Matrilineal puzzle
      4. Joking and Avoidance relationships
      5. Moiety, Phratry, Clan, and Lineage
      6. Types of kinship systems
    4. Economic Anthropology
      1. Definition and relationship with Anthropology and Economy
      2. Theories: Malinowski, Formal, Substantivist, Marxist
      3. Livelihoods and Subsistence
      4. Principles of production, distribution, and consumption
      5. Division of labor in hunting-gathering, pastoral, swidden, and agricultural communities
      6. Exchange, reciprocity, gifts, and barter systems
      7. Kula, Potlatch, and Jajmani – Anthropological explanations
    5. Legal Anthropology: Anthropology of Law and Social Sanctions
    6. Political Organization
      1. Definitions
      2. Political processes in bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and state systems
      3. Conflicts and social control
      4. Nations and Nation-states
      5. Democracy
    7. Religion and Belief Systems
      1. Definitions
      2. Belief concepts: Animism, Animatism, Manaism, Bongaism, Totemism, Taboo
      3. Religious specialists: Witch, Shaman, Priest, Medicine-man, Sorcerer
      4. Magic: Definitions, Types, Approaches
      5. Rituals
    8. Social Change
      1. Basic ideas and concepts: Assimilation, Integration, Syncretism, Dominance, and Subjugation
      2. Approaches

Unit 8: Theories in Social Anthropology

  1. Evolutionism
    1. Tylor
    2. Morgan
    3. Fraser
    4. Maine
    5. McLennan
  2. Diffusionism
    1. Austro-German School
    2. British School
    3. American School
  3. Historical Particularism – Boas
  4. Functionalism – Malinowski
  5. Structural-Functionalism – Radcliffe-Brown, Firth, Fortes, Eggan, Parsons
  6. Structuralism – Levi-Strauss
  7. Culture and Personality/Psychological Anthropology
    1. Mead
    2. Benedict
    3. DuBois
    4. Linton
    5. Kardiner
    6. Whiting and Child
  8. Cultural Ecology, Environmental Anthropology, Neo-evolutionism
    1. Leslie White
    2. Julian Steward
    3. Marshall Sahlins
  9. Cultural Materialism – Marvin Harris
  10. Symbolic Anthropology
    1. Victor Turner
    2. Raymond Firth
    3. Mary Douglas
  11. Cognitive Anthropology
    1. Roy D’Andrade
    2. Stephen Tyler
    3. Ward Goodenough
  12. Deep Ethnography and Interpretive Anthropology
    1. Clifford Geertz
  13. Anthropology and Gender
    1. Leela Dube
    2. Renato Rosaldo
    3. Marilyn Strathern
    4. Zora Neale Hurston
  14. Postmodernism, Poststructuralism, and Postcolonialism
    1. Foucault
    2. Derrida
    3. Bourdieu
  15. Ethnicity
    1. Barth
    2. Jeffery
    3. Weber

Unit 9: Stages in the Development of Indian Anthropology

  1. Key Concepts
    1. Social Stratification (e.g., Caste)
    2. Scheduled Caste (SC), Dalit, OBC, Nomadic Groups
    3. Revivalist/Nativist movements
    4. Peasant movements: Malabar and Telengana movements
  2. Tribal Studies
    1. Tribe and Scheduled Tribe (ST)
    2. Particularly Vulnerable Groups (PVTGs)
    3. Tribal movements: Birsa and Naga movements
    4. Tribal Development and Distribution
  3. Village Studies
    1. Indian Village and Village Studies in India
    2. Key contributors:
      1. C. Dube
      2. McKim Marriott
      3. Weiser
      4. Scarlett Epstein
      5. N. Srinivas
      6. G. Bailey
    3. Constitutional Safeguards
      1. Safeguards for SC and ST
      2. Inclusion and Exclusion
      3. Panchayati Raj Institutions
      4. Traditional community political organizations
      5. Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
    4. Theoretical Ideas
      1. Sanskritization
      2. Westernization
      3. Modernization
      4. Globalization
      5. Sacred Complex
      6. Nature-Man-Spirit Complex
    5. Early Indian Anthropologists and Their Contributions
      1. S. Ghurye
      2. S. Guha
      3. C. Roy
      4. Iravati Karve
      5. P. Vidyarthi
      6. C. Dube
      7. N. Srinivas
      8. K. Bose
      9. Surajit Sinha
      10. N. Majumdar
      11. R.K. Chopra
      12. Verrier Elwin
      13. S. Sarkar
      14. Dharani Sen
      15. C. Das
      16. C. Biswas

Unit 10: Concepts and Theories

  1. Applied and Specialized Anthropology
    1. Applied Anthropology
    2. Action Anthropology
    3. Engaged Anthropology
    4. Experimental Anthropology
    5. Urban Anthropology
    6. Public Anthropology
    7. Public Archaeology
  2. Specialized Fields
    1. Anthropology of Development
    2. Medical Anthropology
    3. Visual Anthropology
    4. Genomic Studies
    5. Genetic Screening and Counseling
    6. Forensic Anthropology
    7. Food and Nutritional Anthropology
    8. Ergonomics
    9. Kinanthropometry
    10. Business Anthropology
  3. Community Development
    1. Community Development Projects: Rural, Urban, and Tribal
    2. Revisits, Re-studies, Reinterpretations
    3. Intervention and Research Process
    4. Social Impact Assessment (SIA)
  4. Anthropological Approaches in Community Studies
    1. Public health
    2. Education
    3. Nutrition
    4. Land alienation
    5. Bonded labor
    6. Housing
    7. Alternative economy
    8. Livelihood
    9. Gender issues
    10. Relief, Rehabilitation, and Relocation
    11. Identity crisis
    12. Communication
    13. Training and management
    14. Aging and the aged
  5. Development Strategies
    1. Plan/Sub Plan
  6. Role of NGOs in Development
    1. Anthropology and NGOs
  7. Empowerment
    1. Women
    2. LGBT groups