Introduction

Anthropology is the study of humanity — the social, cultural and physical characteristics that define us as human beings. It is distinguished by its breadth of scope and its comparative approach. Anthropology collects evidence from past and present human societies through its own specialised methods, including archaeology and ethnography, and integrates these with observations from a wide array of other disciplines to develop a holistic understanding of what it means to be human. In order to generalise about the human condition, Anthropology draws comparisons between different societies, past and present. Among its central concerns are understanding the origins, development and diversity of human culture, social organisation, beliefs and economic activities.

Anthropology at Otago

The Anthropology programme offers students the opportunity to explore a broad range of different approaches to anthropological study, or to specialise in one of three aspects of the discipline.

Archaeology — the study of past human societies through their material remains, concerned primarily with the origins, spread and regional development of human culture.

Social Anthropology — the study of existing peoples, with a global interest in all kinds of societies and all modes of living.

Biological Anthropology — the study of human evolution and biological variation. Above 100-level, specialist papers in Biological Anthropology are taught through the Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology.

You can explore Anthropology programme courses, staff members, research interests and events by following the blue links in the menu to the left of the page.