World of Anthropology

Read about research projects being conducted at Arizona State University. Many of the articles you find on this page are written by graduate students in the anthropology departments. The list is always growing so be sure to come back and visit often.

Historical Human Habitats thumbnail image
Historical Human Habitats

Written by: John Rowan

Many types of plants and animals lived alongside our ancestors in East Africa over the last six million years. These organisms can help us learn about the habitats of early humans and how these habitats changed over time.
LInk to All About DNA
Life is Spelled A, T, C, G

Written by: Genevieve Housman

Life is complex and diverse but comes down to four little letters. The central code that makes all life on earth possible is found in a tiny molecule known as DNA.
Learning how to throw a boomerang image
More than Just Another Idea: Technology and Human Learning

Written by: Benjamin Schoville

Culture holds all the information needed to make tools, friends, and a living. Humans are good at learning and imitating what other people do, which has helped us survive and thrive.

Anthropology fieldwork sketching illustration
Off to the Field We Go

Written by: Hallie Edmonds

Cargo pants. Bug repellent. Duffel bag. Laptop computer. These are just a few of the “must-haves” for anthropologists as they set off to do fieldwork each year.
Photo of Darwin
On the Origin of Species

Written by: Alexandra Norwood

In 1859, Charles Darwin published a book called On the Origin of Species that completely changed our understanding of how biodiversity arises.

Link to Primate family tree
Our Primate Heritage

Written by: Neysa Grider-Potter

As humans, we have a place on the primate family tree. We can find it by studying other primates and comparing their traits to our own.
Primate illustration
Team Primates

Written by: Irene E. Smail

Humans aren't the only animals with complicated social lives. Studying how other primates interact with each other can help us figure out why humans live the way they do.

Anthropologist illustration
The Setting for Science

Written by: Hallie Edmonds

If you like being outdoors, digging up bones, and doing science, then check out what it’s like to be an anthropologist.
Illustration of a tooth on the ground
The Tales of Teeth

Written by: Kierstin Catlett

You are sitting in a dark movie theater. You are trying to enjoy the movie, but you keep thinking about a pesky piece of popcorn stuck between your molars, the back teeth. After fumbling for a toothpick in your pocket, you dislodge the popcorn.

Link to There's No "I" in Human
There's no I in Human

Written by: Irene E. Smail

Teamwork isn’t just something you do playing sports. It’s also a very important part of what makes humans unique.

Pages

How did changes in the Earth’s climate affect our human ancestors?
Answer »

Be part of Ask An Anthropologist

By volunteering, or simply sending us feedback on the site. Scientists, teachers, writers, illustrators, and translators are all important to the program. If you are interested in helping with the website we have a volunteers page to get the process started.

Donate icon  Contribute