Anthropology

Three people sitting at a table outside all wearing masks. They are around a yellow bin. They are holding tweezers and inspecting small items in the bin. In the foreground are nine styrofoam containers, some with blurred plant material.

A fieldwork experience, no travel required

During a two-week in-person bootcamp at the Penn Museum, 11 undergrads learned basic archaeological skills in subjects from ceramics and sample-taking to archaeobotany.

Michele W. Berger ・

Panoramic view of the village of Gangotri at the shore of a river.

‘Cities in water’

Architect and landscape architect Anuradha Mathur and anthropologist Nikhil Anand are collaborating on questions of design and human practices to create new ways of thinking about low-lying coastal cities in India and around the world.

Kristina García ・

A person standing outside in front of a brick building, hands in the pockets of a gray swearing, over a black shirt and purple necklace.

Turning an archaeological practice on its head

In a new book, Megan Kassabaum challenges the field to take a forward-looking approach, rather than one that looks backward. She does this through the study of a Native American architectural feature called platform mounds.

Michele W. Berger ・

Cartoon depicting Black Lives Matter images, a black fist, NO JUSTICE NO PEACE, and a statue of a horse.

National myths and monuments

Season two, episode four, of the OMNIA podcast “In These Times” features three faculty discussing the movement to reexamine monuments and the history and myths they symbolize, and how the public should think about the artworks in public squares.

A close-up of an old chipping door. Blurred in the background is a sign that reads "EVICTION NOTICE" in all capital letters.

Eviction linked to depression risk in young adults

Research from sociologist Courtney Boen and anthropologist Morgan Hoke shows that this issue, compounded by the toll of the pandemic, disproportionately affects low-income households and communities of color.

Michele W. Berger ・



Media Contact


Louisa Shepard

Louisa Shepard Senior News Officer
lshepard@upenn.edu

In the News


Time

Why Indigenous artifacts should be returned to Indigenous communities

The Penn Museum is noted for creating its “Native American Voices: The People—Here and Now” exhibit with the help of tribal representatives.

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Associated Press

International Women’s Day is a celebration and call to action. Beware the flowers and candy

Kristen Ghodsee of the School of Arts & Sciences explores International Women’s Day as a tool for activism in Russian history.

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Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Coastline in crisis: Six experts give us their climate manifesto for Mumbai

Nikhil Anand of the School of Arts & Sciences identifies three key areas of focus to reduce the vulnerability of Mumbai’s residents facing the brunt of water infrastructure issues, particularly those living in slums.

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Miami Herald

‘Spectacular’ statue of a fish-tailed ‘minion’ god found at ancient Roman burial site

According to research from the School of Arts & Sciences, ancient Romans believed that the god Triton lived in a golden palace at the bottom of the sea.

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Philadelphia Business Journal

Penn Museum to start work on $54M Ancient Egypt and Nubia galleries project, the largest renovation in its history

The Penn Museum plans to begin renovation on its $54 million Ancient Egypt and Nubia galleries this fall, with remarks from Christopher Woods.

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Wired

Maybe you should just join a commune

Kristen Ghodsee of the School of Arts & Sciences discusses the benefits of communal living and the restructuring of the traditional nuclear family.

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