Anthropological Networks

The Four Anthropological Subdivisions

The work of archaeologists is often associated with excavations and retrieving and analyzing physical artifacts. This is not the only means used by archaeologists to study the cultural and social behaviors of a group. The Internet has become the “hole” and the data are the artifacts. Archaeologists are able to study social networking by finding and analyzing these data artifacts on the Internet in order to study the social networks as well as the individuals who use them.

Linguistic anthropologists focus on the study of language and how that language influences and shapes social identity and groups. How a group communicates through language is an important part of linguistic anthropologists' contribution to the study of social networks. Using current technologies, linguist anthropologists study the new words and language that have been created as a result of social networking tools and their use.

Physical anthropologists study the physical makeup of primates, particularly the brain, when studying the ability to maintain social relationships. Studying the social networks of a group leads to an analysis of the brain's capacity to communicate with other individuals. Research such as that of Robin Dunbar has focused on the actual number of relationships possible, both physical and virtual.

Social and cultural anthropologists have contributed to the study of social networking and the development of social network analysis through their approach to anthropology. By studying kinship and social relationships, cultural anthropologists are often investigating the structure and meaning of a group's social networks.

Anthropologists have contributed to the study of social networks, but they have also created their own anthropological networks in order to communicate and collaborate while conducting their study of human behaviors.

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