Week 2: Zulu/Andean Indians

The region of KwaZulu Natal (Zululand) basks in a sub-tropic climate most of the year, warm and humid. Its summer months taking place during October-march with temperatures averaging around 80* Fahrenheit with a deviation of +/- 5 degrees. Much of Zululands rain, although spread thru out the summer months, takes place during the summer month of January, with yearly averages ranging from 26 inch to 38 inches of rain. Although rain in Zululand is like clock work there is a tendency for drought to take place every 7 years. Because of its location both NE and SW winds will blow thru the land which in turn helps maintain the warm and humid weather down during the summer time, rarely having temperatures over 100*F. Because of the continuous exposure to the tropic latitudes and the suns ultraviolet light the Zulu people have developed  a significant dark pigmentation to their skin. This allows the Zulu people to have a reduce risk of skin ailments associated with sun exposure, ie skin cancers. The darker pigmentation, melanin in the Zulu, acts as a barrier that shields them from overexposure to the ultraviolet beams. This is a trait that the Zulu have developed and passed on to their offspring so their bodies are able to produce vitamin D without the severe dangers of ultraviolet radiation overexposure.   

In order for the Zulu people to adapt to the ever changing world around them, many have left the traditional train of thought, where the males were responsible for the herds and women were responsible for the harvest, in turn this is a more common practice in the rural areas of South Africa. The Zulu people would be described as belonging to the African race, given their direct lineage from Africa and their predominant physical traits. 

Increased chest development is needed 

 

 

for 

larger lung capacity

The Andes mountain contains one of the most lavish climates worldwide. Ranging from the tropical vibrant green rainforest and constant rain to a bone chilling mountainous peak miles away and wastelands. Running and impressive 4500 miles along the west coast of South America, the Andes mountain are one of the worlds highest mountain ranges. Due to the higher than normal elevations of the Andes mountain, the Andean Indians bodies not only have a higher lung capacity but their bodies produce an elevated amount of hemoglobin, both of which aid the Andean Indians in a more efficient oxygen transportation thru-out their body compared to a person that is not from a similar location. In order to overcome the limited farming real estate that the Andean Indians have they cultivate their crops on the hillside using a method more commonly known as agricultural terrace. This allows for crops to be planted on the hillside along a stair like foundation that the Andean Indians produce along the mountainside. The Andean Indians would most likely fall into the American Indian race, as they hail from the Americas and they are aboriginals.

As an Anthropologist an adaptation to the environment I believe will provide a better explanation to the people as oppose to the outward appearance. If the theory of evolution holds true then our view of peoples physical attributes cant be our sole focus, it would be taking things out of context, a physical appearance isn't something that will change over a single generation. It is something that took hundreds of years to pass down from generation to generation.

http://www.tintasafaris.co.za/climate.html

http://www.zulu.org.za/index.php?districthome+29++57984

http://anthro.palomar.edu/adapt/adapt_4.htm

http://www.africanholocaust.net/peopleofafrica.htm

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/andes_climate.htm

http://anthro.palomar.edu/adapt/adapt_3.htm

http://www.talktalk.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0028672.html