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Anthropology

Anthropology is a thrilling and interesting area of study for students at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Anthropology is the holistic study of humans in the past and present, it is worldwide in scope, encompassing all aspects of human biological and social life from the earliest times to the present. Anthropology is a broad, holistic field that seeks to understand human adaptation to natural and social environments. It is the most humanistic science and most scientific study of humanity.

The holistic part comes from the four subfields of anthropology which are biological (physical) anthropology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and archaeology; these four subfields allow for the study of all aspects of humanity. These subfields also encompass a variety of sub-disciplines including genetics, primatology, anatomy, biochemistry, language development and evolution, behavioral studies, and historical archaeology. Anthropology provides unique methodologies and theoretical perspectives in systematically examining and understanding the human condition and experience. As an interdisciplinary pursuit, anthropology incorporates and draws upon diverse fields and areas of research such as human anatomy and physiology, folklore, biology, geography, geology, history, psychology, and zoology.

Anthropologists study peoples' physical makeup, culturally-conditioned personality, political and economic organizations, ideologies and religious beliefs, languages, and material culture. Cultural anthropologists once focused almost entirely on non-western, tribal traditions. Today anthropologists study the global transformations of modern industrial states and interactions with local-level, indigenous communities and displaced human groups. Biological and archaeological anthropologists study the evolution of humanity over millions of years, including the earliest evidence for Homo sapiens in Africa, the beginnings of food production, and development of complex societies and civilizations. They also focus their studies locally on the origins and history of local peoples, such as the Acadians, and past populations. The subject matter of anthropology is global and timeless.

We’re committed to research for a reason and we’re eager to share what we’re learning, therefore the anthropology program at UL Lafayette offers a wide variety of opportunities outside of the classroom. Students can choose from research opportunities in labs across campus, fieldwork opportunities throughout Louisiana, and both volunteer and paid internship opportunities in museums, archaeology field work, and forensics.

Many students also work closely with faculty on various anthropological research projects and grants, particularly through the two labs that are housed within the anthropology program. The Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Lab provides hands-on experience for students interested in working with human and non-human skeletal remains, learning high-tech skills such as 3-D scanning and modeling, and a variety of other bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology skills. The Louisiana Public Archaeology Lab (LaPAL) is also housed in the anthropology program. This lab provides students with the opportunity to participate in archaeological field work, catalog and analyze artifacts, interact with the community through ethnographic work, conduct historical research, learn high tech skills such as remote sensing and digital mapping, and a variety of other archaeological techniques.

Student operating magnetometry equipment in the field. LaPAL has spent the last three years working closely with the Acadian community and the University to locate the original homesteads of the Acadians who arrived in this area in 1765. To learn more about the The Louisiana Public Archaeology Lab follow this link and to learn more about the New Acadia Project please follow this link. Winter Intersession 2015 Field School Students

From New Acadia Project to Mayan Archaeology

Christian Shuemaker graduated from UL Lafayette in Spring of 2015 with a major in Anthropology. She was accepted to University of Texas San Antonio with a full ride. While at UL Lafayette, Christian was a student worker and volunteer on the New Acadia Project and worked for the US Forest Service one summer. She was also active in the Anthropology Society and served as the president for 2 years. Christians true passion is Mayan archaeology, so while at UL Lafayette she took courses in Anthropology, Latin American Studies, Spanish, and History. In summer of 2016 she is traveling to Belize to begin her graduate research in Mayan archaeology. She says that she was able to pursue her passions and achieve all of her goals because of the support she received from the Anthropology faculty and the flexibility in course work she had as an anthropology major.

UL Lafeyette to Easter Island

Candace Gossen graduated from UL Lafayette in 1986 with a major in architecture and a minor in anthropology. She says she chose her major, despite her passion for anthropology and archaeology because everyone said she could never get a job in archaeology. However, since graduating all she has done is work in anthropology and archaeology! She went on to earn a master’s degree at Arizona State University and a PhD at Portland State University. Her research has focused on deforestation and drought and the impacts of environmental change on humans and by humans. She has worked thoughout the United States, but most recently on Easter Island (the one with the giant heads) and Chile. Candace says “Its all Anthropology. If you want to change the world, find a problem and spend all your time thinking about it, you will uncover a thread that will let you in and your will grow there.”

Successful Graduate in CRM

Philip “Donny” Bourgeois graduated from UL Lafeyette in 1996. Since then he has worked in Cultural Resource Management (CRM) throughout Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, and Arkansas. He has worked for the United States Forest Service, LSU at the Chatsworth Plantation site, and several regional and national CRM firms. Currently he is working for UL Lafayette as a project archaeologists in the New Acadia Project with Dr. Rees. Donny says his love of archaeology really took off while he was a student doing a field school at Poverty Point.

Anthropology In Action

Anthropologist Dr. C. Ray Brassieur has been working with the the local Cajun population for decades to identify and record medicinal plants. Recently he began working with other scientists both in and outside of Louisiana to test the curative proprieties of these plants. Several plants have been found to treat symptoms of inflammation, diabetes, and obesity. This on-going interdisciplinary collaboration between the social and biological sciences is one exciting example of anthropology in action. See the link for a recent article in the local newspaper about this exciting project.

Can Louisiana folk remedy ease modern health crisis? Study says 'yes'

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Sociology, Anthropology, Human Development & Family Science

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Anthropology

From New Acadia Project to Mayan Archaeology

UL Lafeyette to Easter Island

Successful Graduate in CRM

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