Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of humankind or what makes us human.

It is the holistic study of people and cultures in every corner of the globe, from prehistoric times to the present day. Anthropologists study the past, through archaeology, to see how human groups lived hundreds or thousands of years ago and what was important to them.

The Four Subfields of Anthropology

In general, the study of anthropology is divided into four subfields: cultural or social anthropology, biological or physical anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and archaeology. This guide will include resources from all four subfields. 

Cultural or Social Anthropology:

Cultural Anthropology is the study of human cultures all around the world. Culture includes behavior and ideas, and includes topics like clothing, food, housing, marriage & families, political structure, economics, religion, art, and much more.

Biological or Physical Anthropology:

Biological Anthropology is the study of the human body, including "how humans adapt to different environments, what causes disease and early death, and how humans evolved from other animals" (American Anthropological Association, 2022). 

Linguistic Anthropology:

The study of human language or the way people communicate across the globe.

Archaeology:

The study of human culture by analyzing objects people have left behind. This is accomplished through excavation or digging things up.

To learn more about studying Anthropology at Dallas College, visit the Dallas College Anthropology Page. 

There's a lot of information out there, but not all of it is appropriate for your research. You'll need to evaluate what you find and an easy way to evaluate is with the TRAAP Test. TRAAP stands for Timeliness, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose. Click on the PDF link below to learn more.