UCSP
UCSP
Culture is defined as “that complex whole which encompasses beliefs, practices, values,
attitudes, laws, norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and everything that a person learns
and shares as a member of a society” (Taylor, 2010). It is by-product of the attempt of
humans to survive their environment and to compensate for their biological characteristics
and limitations. Our evolution toward humanity as we know it has been a long journey of
survival against the elements of the environment and against competing species. As our
ancestors evolved biologically in response to their environment, they have also developed
cultural technologies that aided them to efficiently obtain food and deter predators. Evolution
is a natural process of biological changes occurring in a population across successive
generations (Banaag, 2012 p.31). It helps us identify and analyze man’s physiological
development and eventually the emergence of different society. Moreover, man’s
progression and characteristics are essential in understanding the capability for adaptation.
Most scientists currently recognize some 15 to 20 different species of early humans.
Human Biocultural Evolution
Species Characteristics
Hominids The development of the different species of primates which were able
“Manlike to evolve in 40 million years ago. There have been various relics of
Primates” hominids which could be described as manlike primates. They are
Ramapithecus, Lucy and Australopithecus.
Homo Habilis The apelike men who first to used stone tools as weapons and
“Handy Man” protection of their enemies. They are recognized as the first true
human. Lived about 2.4 to 1.4 million years ago.
Homo Erectus It was believed to be the first man like creature that lived about
“The Upright 500,000 years ago in Asia, Africa and Europe. This manlike specie
Man” could walk straight with almost the same brain with modern man. He
made refined stone stools for hunting and weapons for protection of
the enemies. The following are the major discovered fossils: a.
Pithecanthropus Erectus “Java Man” –Discovered by Eugene Dubois
at Trinil, Java, Indonesia in 1891. b. Sinanthropus Pekinensis “Peking
Man” –Discovered at Choukoutien village, Beijing, China in 1929.
Homo Sapiens It was believed that this was the direct descendant of modern man
“The Thinking who lived about 250,000 years ago. They had similar physical
Man” descriptions with modern man. They originated as the primitive men
whose activities were largely dependent on hunting, fishing and
agriculture. They buried their dead, used had tools and had religion.
The following are Homo Sapiens subspecies:
a. Neanderthal Man –Discovered in Neanderthal valley near
Dusseldorf, Germany in 1856 who lived in cave and dependent in
hunting and fishing.
b. Cro-Magnon Man – Discovered by a French archaeologist Louis
Lartet in the Cro Magnon Cave in Southern France. It was believed to
live in Europe, Asia and Africa. As a prehistoric man, they were the
first to produce art in cave paintings and crafting decorated tools and
accessories.
2. Our gripping ● Look at your hands. Notice how your thumb relates
capacity with your other fingers. This capacity to directly oppose
your thumb with your other fingers is an exclusive trait
of humans. It allowed us to have a finger grip.
This definition us with a two-part meaning of cultural heritage. On one end, there is heritage
being tangible in the form of structures, monuments, historical sites, and other artifacts. On
the other hand, there is heritage being intangible in the form of literature, oral, traditions,
concepts, and values.
Tangible heritage could be divided into two categories: movable and immovable. The primary
difference in these categories is the size of the heritage. For example, the Stonehenge is an
immovable tangible heritage, whereas the sarcophagus of the pharaoh Tutankhamun is a
movable tangible heritage.
Movable tangible heritage pieces are often removed from the sites where they were found
and transferred to museums for safekeeping and maintenance. Immovable tangible heritage
pieces are often left to the elements of nature (i.e., rain, wind, sand, sun), which makes them
vulnerable to decay and corrosion. This does not mean that conservation efforts are not
being made. However, due to the constant exposure of these objects to these elements,
conservation becomes more challenging.