Anthropology is the study of past and present human societies.
Anthropologists are concerned with the origin, history, and future of our own species, so the field is as diverse as people are. It is one of the most wide-ranging of the academic disciplines.
If you have questions about any of our Anthropology courses (enrollment, waitlist, instructor, course syllabus from courses you've taken or other questions), please contact Mrs. Le-Thu Erazmus Campbell at lerazmus@ku.edu, ANTH Office Manager | Scheduling & Undergraduate Officer.
If you have questions about deadlines or application materials for our graduate program, please contact Rose Sumaya at rosesumaya@ku.edu (CLAS Graduate Program Coordinator) or call 785-864-6592.
ANTH EVENTS:
ANTH FACULTY IN THE NEWS:
Neanderthals could be brought back within 20 years — but is it a good idea?
"That is one of the most unethical things I can possibly think of to attempt — full stop," Jennifer Raff, a biological anthropologist at the University of Kansas, told Live Science of the idea of bringing them back.
To read the full article in Live Science, click link below:
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/human-evolution/neanderthals-could-be-brought-back-within-20-years-but-is-it-a-good-idea
ANTH STUDENTS IN THE NEWS:
Vanna Hay presented the poster "Imputation of Ancient Human Genomes from Under-Represented Native American Populations", along with KU coauthors Kristine Beaty, Obed Garcia, Kelsey Jorgensen, Dennis O'Rourke, Jennifer Raff, and Justin Tackney, at the recent conference of the American Society for Human Genetics in Boston. Using new genotype imputation methods, the team added targeted, high-coverage contemporary and ancient genomes to their reference panel and increased the imputation accuracy of an ancient Unangax individual from the Aleutian Islands. Kristie and Justin also attended the conference. Kudos to Vanna and colleagues!
Christopher Barrett, Kristine Beaty, Obed Garcia, Savannah Hay, Kelsey Jorgensen, Dennis O'Rourke, Jennifer Raff, Justin Tackney (Anthropology), poster presentation, "Imputation of ancient human genomes from under-represented Native American populations," American Society of Human Genetics, Boston, MA, Oct. 16, 2025. Media link
Plains Anthropological Society Annual Meeting in Iowa City, Iowa
This year four KU undergraduate students presented original research at the Plains Anthropological Society Annual Meeting in Iowa City, Iowa. Isaac Toups, Stevie Silverman, Elizabeth Enslin, and Morgan Campbell were awarded the Plains Anthropological Society Undergraduate Student Travel Award. This award helped to defray the cost of the four students attending the conference.
Additionally, Stevie Silverman won the PAS Student Poster Competition! Her poster titled “Comparison of Three Methods of Digital Modeling for Archaeological Materials” compares and contrasts three methods of photogrammetric digital modeling and their respective software/hardware advantages and limitations: the Shining3D Einscan, the Artec Studio Micro II, and traditional camera-based photogrammetry with a Nikon X-II 6s. These methods in particular are effective for small-object digital modeling, which has impacts for the worlds of archaeological research, museum display, and interdisciplinary information sharing with Indigenous tribes. As such, each method should be examined individually and in context with other forms of photogrammetry to determine what form or software/hardware is best for each individual researcher in terms of efficacy, cost, and adaptability. This research is based on digital modeling done with objects from the University of Kansas Archaeology Division. 
FACULTY PUBLICATIONS:
Ted Goebel (Anthropology), (2025). PaleoAmerica at Ten. PaleoAmerica, 11 (1), 1-3. Media link
Ted Goebel, Bethany Potter, Morgan Robledo (Anthropology), (2025). Establishing Contemporaneity through Refit Analysis at a Late Paleoindian Artiodactyl-Drive Complex in Northeastern Nevada. PaleoAmerica, 1–8. Media link
Kelsey Jorgensen (Anthropology), (2025). Maternal CENP-C restores centromere symmetry in mammalian zygotes to ensure proper chromosome segregation. Developmental Cell. Media link
Lauren Norman, Dennis O'Rourke (Anthropology), (2025). The Birnirk to Thule Transition as Viewed from Radiocarbon and Tree-Ring Dating within Two Adjacent Houses at Cape Espenberg, Northwest Alaska. American Antiquity. Published online, 1-20. Media link
Lauren Norman, Dennis O'Rourke (Anthropology), (2025). Variations on a Theme: Comparison of Precolonial Iñupiaq Cultural Landscapes Through Subsistence Strategies at Cape Espenberg, Alaska. Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 1–25. Media link
FACULTY PRESENTATIONS:
The Red Hot Research program invites faculty, staff, and graduate students to attend the upcoming seminar titled "Body, Land, Memory," on November 14. Two anthropologist - Kathryn Berringer and Carlton Shield Chief Gover will present on their research during the seminar.
Dr. Jennifer Raff Presented the Allman Family Lecture at Southern Methodist University
The annual Allman Family Lecture, hosted by SMU's Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute (DCII), featured Professor Jennifer Raff, on October 16th. Dr. Raff presented on the genetic history of the Americas and what it can tell us about ancient human migration. Reviewing the study of DNA from ancient and contemporary humans, she demonstrated how new results are shaping our understanding of human movement and adaptation. Congratulations, Jenny!
Dr. Ted Goebel Presented at the Great Basin Anthropological Conference
In mid-October Ted Goebel attended the Great Basin Anthropological Conference and presented two papers on his team's research at the Hell'n Moriah Clovis site in Utah and Bonneville Estates Rockshelter in Nevada. Two of his finishing PhD students at Texas A&M University, Jordan Pratt and Caitlin Doherty, also gave presentations on their dissertation work with Ted.