Exploring humanity’s diversity and driving global change
The Department of Anthropology advances knowledge through participatory fieldwork and comparative perspectives, addressing the biological, cultural, and environmental interplay of the human experience.
Subfields
Socio-cultural & Linguistics
Biological
Archaeology
Medical
Featured News
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Melissa Teja named 2026 Outstanding Senior in Anthropology
By Jalen Smith The Michigan State University Department of Anthropology is proud to announce Melissa Teja as its Outstanding Senior. This award recognizes a graduating senior in each department with an exceptional academic record, major contributions to the department and their ability to balance rigorous scholarship with extracurriculars.Melissa is a native of Johns Creek, Georgia
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Anthropology PhD student’s research examines dismemberment through shape analysis to help solve crimes
By Jalen Smith and Louise Henderson When forensic scientists (people who solve crimes using science) find bones that have been cut with a saw, they try to figure out what kind of saw was used. This can help them narrow down the tools and possibly catch the person who did it. To do this, they
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Regional Drought and Saints’ Rest Dormitory Discovery
by Dr. William Lovis The onset and continuing impacts of global climate change has had a marked impact on the discovery of archaeological sites worldwide, including in Michigan. Professor Emeritus Dr. William Lovis explores this issue through a discussion of the discovery of the mid-19th century Saints’ Rest dormitory on the MSU Campus, recently published in The