Final answer:
Natural science anthropology studies the various ways in which humans interact with their environment across time and space. It includes examining human evolution, cultural practices, and the interdependence of humans and nature. Fields such as biological anthropology and paleoanthropology are integral to understanding human biological development and cultural emergence.
Step-by-step explanation:
People in natural science anthropology study the complex interrelations between humans and their environment across time and space. They explore various aspects of human life, including how different cultures understand and interact with nature, such as land, water, plants, animals, and climate. This discipline encompasses several fields like biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology, each focusing on different dimensions of the human experience.
Biological anthropology looks at human biological evolution and diversity, examining fossils of early hominins, the genetics of contemporary populations, and primate behavior to gain insights into human development. Archaeologists investigate material artifacts to understand past societies, while cultural anthropologists use participant observations to study culture in modern societies. Linguistic anthropologists focus on language and its interactions with other cultural elements.
Paleoanthropology is a particular aspect of biological anthropology that deals with fossil evidence and ancient material culture, aiding in the formation of hypotheses about human evolution.
In essence, natural science anthropologists are concerned with the breadth of human existence, the interdependence of humans and nature, and how humans have adapted biologically, socially, and culturally throughout history.