Understanding the Past to Solve Today’s Problems: Adaptability to Climate Change among Diverse African Populations

There is an old adage that goes, “Those who do not understand the past are doomed to repeat its mistakes.”  This rings true not only within historical contexts but others, as well, particularly concerning contemporary issues, such as contemporary climate change.  A group of scholars recently published their study wherein they successfully argued for a holistic understanding of the history of subsistence strategies in order to best aid contemporary societies.  They used African populations as their evidence.  These chose these populations not specifically due to the data available to analyze and test their ideas, but because contemporary African populations are most sensitive and impacted by modern climate change, necessitating a viable solution to the contemporary problems they are currently facing.

 

In their study Phelps et al. examined isotopic, ecological, and archaeological data from African populations that existed over the past 11,000 years.  They noted that near the beginning of this temporal span (as in 11,000 years ago) the African continent was much wetter and tropical, and over time it became drier and more arid.  By examining the isotopic data, which showed peoples’ diets over time, as well as archaeological data to help infer subsistence strategies of said people, they were able to identify how African populations were best able to sustain themselves in the face of climatic shifts. 

 

They ultimately reached the conclusion that those populations that were most resilient were those that utilized a mix of subsistence strategies, not just one.  Africa populations that engaged in a combination of farming, foraging and hunting, fishing, and herding/pastoralism were better able to survive during long periods of environmental changes and uncertainty. 

 

The reason this information is important is because it can be used to assist not only contemporary African populations but other populations across the world as climate change continues.  "If we want climate solutions and global environmental change solutions to work, they need to be rooted in an understanding of the way that people have been using available resources throughout time," said Phelps.  This makes sense as it acknowledges people’s familiarity with their own environments and ways of surviving within them without drastically transforming their ways of life during stressful periods.  It also draws upon successful strategies that worked in the past and most likely will continue to do so in the present, thereby allowing for informed decision making that will increase the likelihood of successful implementation.

 

References

Fowler, R. (2025, June 26). African societies survived climate shifts for millennia by diversifying how they lived. Phys.org.

Phelps, L. N., Davis, D. S., Chen, J. C., Moore, S., Mangut, C., Lehmann, C. E., & Douglass, K. (2025, June 20). Africa-wide diversification of livelihood strategies: Isotopic insights into Holocene human adaptations to climate change. One Earth.

 

Applied Anthropologist Profile: Dr. Herman Pontzer

Dr. Herman Pontzer

Dr. Herman Pontzer is a bit of a maverick in the anthropological community.  He employs traditional research methods and tools to answer questions concerning human evolution, but the conclusions he reaches stretch and often contradict the expectations of his peers.  He is a widely published scholar who has articles published in prestigious journals and books, but he also not afraid and does not shy away from ensuring the public hears about his work.  He takes to social media and talk shows to share his conclusions.  All in all he is an interesting character who is helping not only scholars better understand the biological aspects of how we became the human species we are today, but also how that information can be used to enhance the athletic potential of endurance athletes and the health outcomes of the average individual living within industrialized societies. 

 

Dr. Herman Pontzer is currently employed at Duke University’s Global Health Institute, where he leads his own laboratory.  He and his team study human and nonhuman primate physiology, specifically examining the effects of ecology, lifestyle, diet, and evolution on metabolism (the ability to burn calories into energy) and health.  He applies these understandings to better understand how and why certain diseases (e.g., diabetes and heart disease) are more common in industrialized groups versus non-industrialized ones (e.g., foragers). 

 

It was through the employment of methods created and refined by physiologists that he established a great deal of information and conclusions that have stretched the scholarship on human evolution and human physiology.  For example, he identified that exercise in and of itself does not lead to greater caloric expenditure.  Human bodies, which require a great deal of calories to maintain appropriate functioning of the expansive and complex brain, will compensate for energy expenditures as needed in order to keep enough energy for the brain.  This conclusion refutes a longstanding and popular idea that one can exclusively exercise themselves to a better body.  Instead, his work supports the conclusion that it is a balanced diet and exercise that allows one to get the body they want.

 

These conclusions were reached through the financial support of various grants, such as the prestigious Wenner-Gren grants, as well as work on both animal and human subjects.  His initial research started with dogs, but then graduated to goat and later nonhuman primate, specifically ape, species.  After continually discovering that larger animals expend fewer calories than smaller ones, except for humans, he moved on to studying modern populations, including foraging groups in Africa, horticulturalists in South America, and industrialized populations in the United States.  It was through comparative studies of contemporary human groups that he realized that exercise is not the only factor in burning calories.  The applications of his research can and do help those working in nutrition, athletics/exercise physiology, and human health.

 

His conclusions have not been accepted without criticism.  There were those who were hesitant to accept his conclusions because they ran counter to expected results, but with greater research these concerns have decreased.  Currently the concerns are in the delivery of the information to the public, specifically in encouraging those interested in weight loss to take on unhealthy diets.  Pontzer is unafraid of the critiques.  In his interview with Science magazine, he remarked: “When you have a bad experience and life plucks you off your track, it’s scary. You have to move forward, though, and that teaches you not to be scared of new things.”  This philosophy has undoubtedly helped him move past the negative critiques and foster better scientific research that  is helping not just the scientific community but the general public as well.

 

Bibliography

Gibbons, A. (2022, February 17). The Calorie Counter: Evolutionary anthropologist Herman Pontzer busts myths about how humans burn calories—and why. Science.

Pontzer, H. (n.d.). Herman Pontzer, Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology and Global Health. Retrieved from Duke Global Health Institute: https://globalhealth.duke.edu/people/pontzer-herman

Applied Anthropologist Profile: Dr. Tracy Rone, Applied Educational and Linguistic Anthropologist

Dr. Tracy Rone

Education is considered an essential means of allowing and enabling individuals to better themselves.  This betterment is not just about improving one’s mind and skills but then applying what is learned to gainful employment.  Through gainful employment one can earn money to allow them a better way of life.  This is all well in good, but in practice there remain various barriers for certain groups of people.  These barriers make it difficult to achieve not only academic but also socioeconomic success.  Various scholars have recognized and studied these issues, applying what they learn to improving educational institutions and attainment among these institutions’ pupils.  Today’s blog post features one such scholar, Dr. Tracy Rone, who has and continues to apply what she is learning through her research to make educational better for students in the mid-Atlantic area.

 

Dr. Tracy Rone is a linguistic anthropologist by training.  She earned a B.A. from Goucher College, her M.A. from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles.  In her research she critically studies urban education programs, particularly within contexts of poorly funded and under resourced educational institutions and districts.  She specifically focuses on how to improve these institutions to aid students in improving their educational experiences, but she also explores the micro (individual) level aspects of education.  This had led her to focus on identity and educational attainment, the impacts on health and educational disparities, and experiential learning.

 

Her passions in education and equity have led her to take on various roles.  Since joining the faculty at Morgan State University in 2007 she has served in several positions.  She is currently an Assistant Dean, Research and Community Partnerships, and Associate Professor in the Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership, and Policy in the School of Education and Urban Studies at Morgan State University.  She was previously the Interim Director of Innovation and Community Partnerships. 

 

Outside of the university setting she works as an applied anthropologist.  She was the Research Co-director for the Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC), a partnership founded by Baltimore City Public Schools, Morgan State University and Johns Hopkins University.  She is also the Equity Task Force Co-Chair for Transform Mid-Atlantic, an organization that works in partnership with higher education institutions to increase educational equity within these institutions and their surrounding communities.  She took on the responsibility of developing and implementing many programmatic needs of Transform Mid-Atlantic’s work, as well as acted as the liaison for the organization and her university.  Her efforts were recognized when she was awarded the Alan G. Penczek Service-Learning Faculty Award.

 

 

Dr. Rone’s work continues as she seeks to improve educational equity for students.  While her work is concentrated on the mid-Atlantic region, it is work that is applicable to students across the United States, ultimately benefiting all who use her work to accomplish and further her goals.

 

Works Cited

Association of Black Anthropologists. ABA Executive Board, Association of Black Anthropologists. 2025. Electronic. 30 April 2025.

Morgan State University. Dr. Tracy Rone, School of Education and Urban Studies. 2025. Electronic. 30 April 2025.

Transform Mid-Atlantic. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusiveness (JEDI) Initiative. 2025. Electronic. 30 April 2025.

Applied Anthropologist Profile: Oscar Nilsson, Archaeologist, Sculptor, and Forensic Artist

Oscar Nilsson working on reconstructing a face (Source: Nilsson, 2025)

 

Recreating the faces and bodies of the dead is no easy task, but it is one that forensic artists must do when a positive identification of a victim cannot be otherwise made.  These forensic reconstructions, which often focus on individual’s faces, are based on over a century’s worth of data and information about facial attributes.  The location and placement of the facial muscles, skin depths based on an individual’s weight, and more must be understood in order to construct an accurate recreation.  Using this knowledge, along with pegs and clay, a forensic artist can masterfully bring the deceased individual back to life, or at least reconstruct what they may have looked like in life. 

 

These very methods have been employed outside of forensic contexts and criminal investigations to create life like restorations of what historical figures and people of the past may have looked like.  This work has been undertaken by the Kennis Brothers, but they are not the only individuals working within this area.  Today’s blog post will discuss another archaeologist, sculptor, and forensic artist, Oscar Nilsson.

 

Oscar Nilsson has been reconstructing ancient and historical figures’ faces for almost 30 years.  He opened his studio, O.D. Nilsson, in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1996.  Since then he has been responsible for over 80 creations of men, women, and children from throughout human history that are on display in museums across Europe and the United States.  His most notable creations include those of Peruvian and European royalty, a woman accused of being a vampire in Poland, ancient Vikings, Ice Mummies of South America, and more.

 

While much of Nilsson’s work is based on forensic sculpting techniques he acknowledges that there is a bit of creative license required of his work.  While there are precise methods for understanding how to recreate the form of a human face there is no specific rules on knowing what someone’s skin, hair, or eye color was, the texture of their hair, what facial hair would have been present, etc.  This is where his bioarchaeological knowledge comes into play.  He used to rely on ancient demographic data to make educated guesses on these specific features, as well as cultural ones concerning hair styles.  Today, when and where available, he instead turns to paleogenetic data to better inform him on what these features were to create a more accurate visage.

 

He also relies on various other newer technologies to more accurately create his works.  If and when the skull is too fragile to handle or is fragmentary and/or missing portions he relies on CT scans to help recreate the skull.  Again, he relies on paleodemographic data to estimate what the missing cranial features may have looked like.  Nilsson has also ventured into using Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) to scan and review skulls to identify any features that the naked eye may have missed. 

 

Ultimately, he is concerned with accuracy in his work and wants to bring to life the ancient individuals he is tasks with working on as realistically as possible.  This attention to detail has made him a highly sought after artist, as well as given him a reputation of excellence.

 

References

Archaeology Magazine. (2024, November 1). 400-Year-Old Face of “Zosia” Reconstructed. Archaeology Magazine.

Cottier, C. (2025, February 7). Art and Science Combine to Reconstruct the Faces of Our Ancestors. Discover.

Fox, A. (2020, June 3). See the Face of a Man Whose Skull Was Mounted on a Stake 8,000 Years Ago. Smithsonian Magazine.

Katz, B. (2018, February 2). Experts Reconstruct the Face of a Mesolithic-Era Teenager. Smithsonian Magazine.

Nilsson, O. (2025). OD Nilsson - Contact & Requests. Retrieved from Art & Science by O.D. Nilsson: https://www.odnilsson.com/about-me/

 

Applied Anthropologist Profile: Mallory Love, Matchmaker

Mallory Love, Matchmaker

 

As anthropology is a dynamic field that involves studying all aspects of what it means to be human the employment opportunities really are quite endless.  This may seem like a farfetched and overreaching statement, but the work of Mallory Love, an elite matchmaker, really reinforces this statement.  Today’s blog post will discuss how she uses her anthropological expertise and decade plus of professional experience to find her clients what they are looking for: true and lasting love.

 

Mallory Love grew up in Iowa.  In 2013 she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology and Art at Texas State University.  She did not enter the world of matchmaking until 2017, however.  According to her personal statements on her matchmaking website, Match Made by Love, she struggled to find her way as a professional.  She ultimately relied on her intuition and anthropological education to pursue her passions in matchmaking.

 

Love became employed for a short time as a matchmaker with Matchmakers in the City, a matchmaking service out of Los Angeles.  From there she ventured out on her own by starting her own matchmaking business.  While she continues her independent work she has since become the Chief Operating Officer for Love and Matchmaking, LLC.  Her employers report that she is a highly sought after matchmaker because of her cultural understanding and expertise.  While many matchmakers use a psychological approach and focus on the individual, learning about their personality, habits, likes/dislikes, and biases, Love goes beyond this to understand their cultural expectations and experiences with love and dating as well as marriage and family expectations.  She also employs a little linguistic anthropology to help her clients learn how to harness their communication skills to not only better communicate but also listen to potential matches. 

 

It is this cultural understanding that is often credited as part of Mallory Love’s success within the matchmaking industry.  She is praised by her employers, peers, but most importantly, her clients.  All of this goes to show the power of understanding and appreciating culture, and how it can and does fast track one to success in any and all fields, including matchmaking.

 

Works Cited

Brooks, Amber. "Love and Matchmaking™ Thrives as a One-Stop Shop for Single, Busy Professionals in All 50 States." Dating News 5 November 2019. Electronic.

Fellizar, Kristine and Carolyn Steber. "Experts Say These 20 Incompatible Qualities End Relationships." Bustle 28 June 2021. Electronic.

Love And Matchmaking, LLC. "Meet Our Matchmakers." 2018. Love And Matchmaking, LLC. Electronic. 29 April 2025.

Love, Mallory. Coaching by Love. 2025. Electronic. 29 April 2025.

—. LinkedIn Profile: Mallory Love. n.d. Electronic. 29 April 2025.