LibGuides: Anthropology: Start Here

Major Resource

The Routledge Handbook of Archaeological Human Remains and Legislation
Call Number: Wilm Reference Books K 3791 .R68 2011
ISBN: 9780415588577
Publication Date: 2011-04-28

This book provides comprehensive information on the excavation of archaeological human remains and the law through over 50 individual country contributions from Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania.

Select a Topic

UNESCO's World Heritage List
The World Heritage List includes 981 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.

Need help selecting a site of interest? Here are some resources that may help you decide.

Wikipedia's List of Archaeological Sites by Country
Yes, this is a situation where Wikipedia is a good place to start! Prefer to browse a book? See the reference book below.
World Heritage Sites: A Complete Guide to 890 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (book)
Wilm Reference Books G 140.5 .W677 2010
Come to the Library to browse this well illustrated book which lists "each site [with] an entry explaining its historical and cultural significance, with a description and location map."

eHRAF [Human Relations Area Files] from Yale University

eHRAF World Cultures This link opens in a new window

eHRAF World Cultures includes materials on nearly 400 cultures, past and present, all over the world. The database is unique in that the information from books, journal articles and other sources is organized by cultures and ethnic groups, and every document is subject-indexed at the paragraph level.

More eHRAF Video Tutorials
Browse Cultures (3:29 minutes)
Browse Subjects (2:46 minutes)
Advanced Search (5:09 minutes)

What is Anthropology?

What is anthropology? In the simplest terms, it is the study of humans, anytime from prehistory to the present day, and anywhere that humans live or have lived. There are four major divisions of anthropology:

Archaeology – the study of the human past primarily through manmade items
Physical (Biological) Anthropology – the study of the biology and evolution of humans
Linguistic Anthropology – the study of human communication and its relationship to culture
Cultural Anthropology – the study of contemporary societies and their learned behavior