Homology (anthropology)
Encyclopedia
In anthropology
and archaeology
, homology is a type of analogy
whereby two human beliefs, practices or artifact
s are separated by time but share similarities due to genetic
or historical
connections. Specifically in anthropology, a homology is a structure that is shared through descent from a common ancestor.
The concept was explored by the American archaeologist William Duncan Strong
in his direct historical approach
to archaeological theory.
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
and archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, homology is a type of analogy
Analogy
Analogy is a cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a particular subject to another particular subject , and a linguistic expression corresponding to such a process...
whereby two human beliefs, practices or artifact
Cultural artifact
A cultural artifact is a term used in the social sciences, particularly anthropology, ethnology, and sociology for anything created by humans which gives information about the culture of its creator and users...
s are separated by time but share similarities due to genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
or historical
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
connections. Specifically in anthropology, a homology is a structure that is shared through descent from a common ancestor.
The concept was explored by the American archaeologist William Duncan Strong
William Duncan Strong
William Duncan Strong was an American archaeologist and anthropologist noted for his application of the direct historical approach to the study of indigenous peoples of North and South America....
in his direct historical approach
Direct historical approach
The direct historical approach was an archaeological and anthropological technique developed and promoted by such American scholars as William Duncan Strong, Waldo Wedel, and others during the 1920s and 1930s....
to archaeological theory.