Anthropology is a holistic study of the human condition in both the past and the present. The anthropological lens can bring into focus the social, cultural, biological, and linguistic diversity of humankind throughout time and space.
Anthropological fieldwork can encompass many directions: the search for early human fossils in Africa, the excavations of prehistoric societies and ancient civilizations, the analysis of language use and other expressive forms of culture, or an examination of the significance of culture in the context of social life in all societies, particularly non-Western ones.
Bryn Mawr's Department of Anthropology continues its four-field legacy, offering courses in Cultural and Linguistic Anthropology, Archaeology, and Biological Anthropology. Our faculty members conduct research in Alaska and Central Asia, South America, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa.