Anthropology Reflection on Death

Anthropology Reflection on DeathVado Tergum In VicisVado Tergum In Vicis I collar him mumble as I cradled him and watched him close his eyes, inhale a ample breath champion last clock before dozing off in a deep unending slumber. Those were his last words. It has been weeks since my granddad passed away take only his words still echo in my head, as if those were only tell yesterday. I was going by some of the things in his office when something of pursuit caught my attention. There, stashed between collections of replicas of fossil fragments, valuable artifacts and dusty big mvirtuosoy of scratch document and m of age(predicate)y discussions he gathered from old age of field run for, was a sm on the whole, uncommon fountain uping, leather book. Written on its very first page were the exact equal words he held before he died. I k saucily straightaway that the book was of something special. However, browsing through with(predicate) its worn proscribed dusty pages, I was only left with disappointment for the book did non contain anything away from descriptions and a few dra wing of our supposed hu valet de chambre ancestors.My gramps was an anthropologist, and a smart angiotensin converting enzyme I should boast. He spent his years doing field work in different parts of the world until it was time for him to stop because of his old age. B separateed by my grandfathers last words, I again went through his book, this time going through and rendition every chapter, ledger entry by entry, repeating his last words over and over in my head while reading every word in the book, hoping to attract sense of the phrase. Suddenly, I felt a weird sensation scarecrow crawl up my spine, and then everything started spinning right before my eyes until it altogether went black. chirrup Chirp Chirp Chirp I heard picayune chirping sounds as I awoke from a st position and an unexpected deep sleep. Chirp Chirp Chirp Chirp I heard them at a time muc h. non noticing that I woke up in a different place, I caste off to find where the noise was coming from until I came upon a go up of hungry little eaglets. Marveling at the sight of the poor little marionettes, it at last occurred to me where I really was, on top of a tree in a singular and unfamiliar place somewhere and not in my grandfathers office where I take to beed reading before colour out. Thinking it was only a dream, I started stretching hoping to finally drive out up in the comfort of my grandfathers office. But to my disbelief, sort of of slender hu gay arms, big, strong wings came out and stretched in all its efficacy. unsounded astonished and clueless of how I transformed into this magnificent pecker in a single snap, I was left with no prime(a) plainly to extend in this new form and accept the right of looking after my young eaglets.While flying above the surface, I detect the surrounding area. It was not the typical lush green timber one may find in a typical woodland or a mountain somewhere. The area is a dry savanna grassland with trees scattered widely apart (Forey Blaxland, 2013). Then at a distance, not very far from where I was hovering, I noticed a grouping of species with very distinct features. They take away a relatively hairless, tall, slender unyielding legged body complemented by an upright stature and a fondle face with gracious- a corresponding projecting nose (Forey Blaxland, 2013). Then it hit me, could it be that this species were the same as or the ones being described in my grandfathers book? Is it possible that I have time leaded 1.9 to 1.5 one million million years in the past (Smithsonian topic Museum of vivid History, n.d.) through his book to witness first give way the existence of the human ergaster, which was the earliest known human ancestor to have possessed more human-like features (Forey Blaxland, 2013.), in East and sulfur Africa (Smithsonian guinea pig Museum of lifelike Histo ry, n.d.)? If this was the case, then I prat still travel screen to the present time and be a human again.The public opinion of being able to travel back to the present time and be a person again filled me with so much comfort and excitement that I quickly perched on the nearest tree that enabled me a view where I could observe and watch them more nearly. Remembering my grandfathers notes and having personally observed the species, which I pass on now impact to as the humankind ergaster, it can be verified that their relative hairlessness and erect stature can account for the improvement of body change techniques (Forey Blaxland, 2013) and for their life on the demonstrate as their climbing adaptations got lost with the training of their ability to walk, run and travel long distances (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.). Notable, among the world ergaster was their development, producey and utilization of tools and dissolve which I have found drawings in grandfathers book. According to the description in his notes, tools which included cleavers, hand axes and picks were excavated together with the ergasters fossils (Forey Blaxland, 2013). The tools were used mainly in hunting and butchery big animate beings and heavy wood working (Forey Blaxland, 2013).Is that liberation I can see flickering at a distance? I excitedly thought to myself. I better fly there and check what is happening. Oh, I can see it now Theyre making fire (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.) I exclaimed happily. But for what reason are they making it? burning to know, I continued to hover near the area. A few moments recentr, when the fire is burning big enough, the species then placed chunks of meat, maybe from some beast, and countersink tubers found all over the savannah (ONeil, 2013) over the burning pile of wood as if they were in a barbecue party. How amazing I exclaimed, These marionettes already have knowledge making and cooki ng with fire (Forey Blaxland, 2013). Amazed, I decided to stay a little longer hoping to learn more about them. I built a new nest on a near tree so that I could still look after my young while studying this fascinating group of species. establish from my close observations of them, I can infer that there is a pass water parallelism between the Homo ergaster and our more modern human species, like tending and caring for the sick or injured, although there were no evidences of them designedly burying their dead, staying or living within family based social bonds, an increase period of childhood (Forey Blaxland, 2013), and communicating through a limited range of sounds and gestures (ONeil, 2013). Also, there existed a pattern of cooperation in Homo ergaster males and females which can be attributed to a decreased sexual dimorphism between them (Forey Blaxland, 2013).Until one day, as I was counting for food to feed my young, that sudden quaint feeling I felt before coming int o this strange new place came to me again. My wings suddenly grew numb and I started falling, I lost consciousness. Few moments later, I woke up, sitting in my grandfathers office, the book in my lap. panicky by the experience, I decided to keep the book away but found myself seconds later more drawn to it, browsing and turning its every page. Then before I had the strength to put it away, the strange feeling crept through me again, then, I found myself in another strange place. This time, in a grassland area with a more temperate and cold mode (ONeil, 2013) far from the dry savannas of East and South Africa. Abounding in mixed steppes, the env smoothing ironment proved to be an opinionl habitat for boastful grazing animals (ONeil, 2013). Wondering why the book brought me to such an environment, I started rambling through the area. As I go about surveying the new surroundings, I put one acrossd that something very strange was happening. Other animals ran away at the instant t hey saw me coming. Puzzled, I continued until I came across a small pond. Hot from hours of walking, I decided to wash my face and pledge from the crystal clear waters of the pond. But as I change shape near the waters surface, this capacious tigers face appeared and stared right at me from the water. Terrified, I quickly pulled myself away from the waters surface and got on my feet to survey the area of the lurking beast. Realizing I was actually alone, I again went near the water only to realize that the tigers reflection which scared me earlier was actually mine. Dumbfounded at the idea that I am now a ferocious predator, it made me realize that not only did my grandfathers notebook allowed me to travel through time but also, it enabled me to shape shift to a different creature in each time period.The sound of passing footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. At a distance, there was a group of shortstop and stocky men, with large faces characterized by a flat nose, a low sloping forehead and massive brow ridge (Forey, 2013) dragging the carcass of a boar, slit open, indicating that it was attacked and eaten by bigger predator and was not killed by the men. Unaware of the present time period and geographic location where I am in, and seeing a resemblance between these men and the species of Homo ergaster which I have observed in the African continent, led me to assume and establish a contact between these dickens species. While secretly observing the group from roll in the hay the bushes as to keep my straw man unknown, memories from reading grandfathers notes in his office suddenly rushed through me. Then I remembered reading on the part when some groups of Homo ergaster started to move out of Africa and dust in parts of Asia and Europe 1.8 to 1.7 million years ago (ONeil, 2013) and might have evolved into more tortuous beings or side branched into a different species. With this in mind, the idea finally struck me. The book brought me to Asia to coo perate the Homo erectus, possibly an ancestor or a distant cousin (ONeil, 2013) of the modern human species, who lived 1.6 million 100,000 years ago (Forey, 2013). But where incisively am I in Asia? China or Indonesia? As I have knowledge that the Homo erectus were geographically distributed in regions of these countries (Forey, 2013). Judging from the agile surroundings and the cool climate, I can say that I was in China. Eager to learn more about them, I decided to fall out them until they led me to what seems a small settlement. There, I observed that these species, like the ergaster, live in small band-societies, somewhat similar to the hunter-gatherer band societies (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.) Tools can also be found in the settlement. However, comparing them to those of the ergasters, one may notice that the tools of the erectus were more primitive as they were only plain choppers and fake tools (Forey, 2013). Also, I have seen no evidence of t heir use of fire which their cousins in Africa utilized (Forey, 2013). When it comes to their diet, I have observed that it mainly incorporate of meat supplemented by vegetables, nuts, fruits and berries (Forey, 2013).Dried twigs and branches on the ground loudly balmy as I accidentally stepped on them informing the erectus of a presence nearby. Fearing that they become aware of my presence, I remained silently still, hidden behind the bushes. Then, I sensed movement behind me. And when I turned around, it was too late for he had already lifted and thrown a big bowlder in my direction. Frightened, I just closed my eyes and helplessly waited for the agitate to hit me until I blacked out. A few moments later, I was very grateful to have wakened again in my grandfathers library. Thrilled with what was happening, I continued reading the book until I again found myself in another place, in another time period, in another creatures form. Just as I regained my consciousness, spears and arrows made of rocky started striking in my direction. Groups of men started chasing after me as I transformed into a deer when I came here. I ran and ran until I lost them. Now, having knowledge that I have time traveled 400, 000 200, 000 years in the past, in Europe, or maybe in Central or East Asia, in search of the Homo sapiens neanderthalensis (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.) which I think were the ones chasing me earlier, I immediately set off to find their settlements but anxious that once they saw me, will end up killing me for food as their diet mainly consist of meat and other vegetables (Forey, 2013). After hours of roaming in the new environment, I finally reached their settlement, but only observing them on a nearby pile, hidden from their sight. Living under cold climate to temperate climates in woodland and steppe environments (Natural History Museum, n.d), the Neanderthals developed a short and stocky physique that allows them better conser vation and regulation of body lovingness which enabled them to survive glacial periods (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.). They also have a large middle face characterized by a double bowleg brow ridge, angled cheekbones and large nose utilized in heating and humidifying cold air (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.).The Neanderthals live in tangled groups and have advanced tools made of stone and flint such as blades, arrows, spears, hand axes and other flake tools which they used in hunting my descriptor and other big animals (Natural History Museum, n.d). Then something caught my attention. What are they doing? I thought, as I saw a few of them carry one mans body to another hill adjacent my location. Curious, I went impending but still hiding from them. Are they doing what I think it is? I exclaimed as I saw them place the body in what seems like a enceinte and cover it with dirt. Are they burying their dead? To fend for my observatio n, I went to the other site where I saw them bury the man the moment they left. To my disbelief, I saw many other what seems as graves, the hill was a graveyard. This practice of actually burying their dead by the Neanderthals (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.) really amazed me. Aside from this, they also have other activities and behaviors very similar to that of modern humans, which other human ancestors doesnt have or practice, like covering their bodies with fit outs made from animal skin, plants or barks coming from trees, making and controlled use of fire, making symbolic or enhancive ornaments, and sometimes marking the graves with flowers and other ornaments (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.). I suddenly felt a stinging sensation. An arrow has pierced through my back. One of the Neanderthals went back to the grave to offer flowers, saw me and fired a shot. Suffering from the pain, I mustered all my strength and tried to run away. de veloping weak because of blood loss, I collapsed, The last thing I remember was laying on the ground, the man, an axe in his hand, then, everything went black.Expecting to be waking up in my grandfathers office, I was in utter astonishment to have found myself inside a tent when I regained consciousness. Still confused where I was and why I ended up in such a place, I heard a familiar character from behind, What took you so long? it said Ive been expecting you. And when I turned around, there, standing(a) behind me was my grandfather. I couldnt believe what my eyes just saw, What is grandfather doing here Is he alive? Am I dead? Is he the devil disguising as my grandfather? these thoughts filled my mind. Do not cultism my boy. You are not dead nor I was the man said. Come, I will tell you the whole story, he revealed the secrets of the book, how he was able to travel through time through it, until we reached a settlement crowded with tents made from tanned hides of big animals li ke the wooly mammoth, sewn together, wrapped around logs and were pulled to the ground with big rocks or dirt (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.). Then he introduced me the other people in the settlement and I found out that they were the Cro-Magnons who lived 35,000 10,000 years ago in Europe (Foley, 2002), my grandfather and I, now one of them. These people, unlike their contemporaneous Neanderthals, were tall and muscular in stature closely resembling modern humans although more robustly built (Foley, 2002). According to grandfather, these people, during the pass months and those living in colder areas wore clothes made from skins of animals whereas during the summer months and warmer seasons, the Cro-Magnons clothe themselves in woven barks or grass (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.). They were a semi-nomadic, hunter-gatherer society who used to hunt big game like the bison, mammoth, deer (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n .d.) with finely crafted tools like spears, javelin, arrows made from made from bones, flint and antler points (Foley, 2002), as their diet mainly consist of meat and vegetables (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.). The Cro-Magnons also made use of fire, made necklaces and other ornaments from pieces of shell and animal teeth, cared for the sick and believed to bury the deceased in a single grave in cave shelters (Foley, 2002). These people also utilized manganese and iron oxide to paint pictures depicting their culture and activities on cave walls (Foley, 2002), most far-famed of which were the ones found in France. Having coexisted with the Neanderthals in Europe there is a initiative of interbreeding between these two human species. However, with the extinction of the Neanderthals some 28,000 years ago, one possible reason was competition and hunting between the two (Foley, 2002).Having experienced all these, made me appreciate and understand more the complex ity of human beings. How they have evolved from simple, unassuming beings to more intelligent and complex ones is one of our species crackingest mysteries. But the question lingers? Have we, as the most complex and evolved human species occupying the top spot in this great chain of human evolution, reached our perfect and final form? Or are we, like the great ancestors before us, still undergo and are capable of evolving as we discover and learn new things with the passing of time?Strolling inside one of the caves, marveling at the artistic paintings on the cave walls, a leopard suddenly jumps in front of us. Then, I heard my grandfather Vado Tergum In Vicis and before I knew it, we were back in my fathers room, on his deathbed, him in my arms, the book in my hands.Noelle Patricia AlonteReferencesDorey, F. B. Blaxland. (2013). Homo ergaster. Australian Museum. Retrieved from http//australianmuseum.net.au/homo-ergasterDorey, F. (2013). Homo erectus. Australian Museum. Retrieved fro m http//australianmuseum.net.au/homo-erectusDorey, F. (2013). Homo neanderthalensis. Australian Museum. Retrieved from http//australianmuseum.net.au/homo-neanderthalensisDorey, F. (2014). Homo sapiens. Australian Museum. Retrieved from http//australianmuseum.net.au/homo-sapiens-modern-humansFoley, J. (2002). Fossil hominids Cro-magnon man. Retrieved from http//www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/cromagnon.htmlNatural History Museum. (n.d.). Neanderthalensis (Homo neanderthalensis). Retrieved from http//www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/human-origins/early-human-family/neanderthals/index.htmlONeil, D. (2013). Homo Erectus. Retrieved from http//anthro.palomar.edu/homo/homo_2.htmSmithsonian. (n.d.). Human evolution evidence. Retrieved from http//humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/fossils/cro-magnon-1