Anthropology

Honors for commitment to community

Twenty College of Arts and Sciences students from 12 disciplines on three campuses, along with two CAS faculty members, were honored this spring for their outstanding commitment to the University and their communities. Established in 1996, the WSU President’s Awards for Leadership are bestowed

Archaeologist plays major role in UN climate report

There is perhaps no one in the Inland Northwest who understands the dire consequences laid out in the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) report better than Tim Kohler, a WSU emeritus professor of archaeology and evolutionary anthropology. He holds the distinction of being the first archaeologist to contribute to an IPCC report […]

Most-read research stories of 2021

As the pandemic dragged into its second year, Washington State University research that grabbed the most media attention either provided some comfort and hope or warned of more dangers ahead. CAS faculty featured in four of the top 10 most popular stories—including the number one spot—and were well-represented in the next 76 press releases tracked […]

Radiocarbon dating adds a millennium to Sakaro Sodo stelae

Rising as high as 20 feet, ancient stone monoliths in southern Ethiopia are 1,000 years older than scientists previously thought, according to a new study in the Journal of African Archaeology led by Ashenafi Zena (’19 PhD). “This is one of the most understudied archaeological sites in the world, and we wanted to change that,” said […]

The vital role of camus cultivation

An environmental archaeologist, Molly Carney (’21 PhD) connects Native American history, wisdom, and experiences to our 21st century world and links the evolution of human life to earth’s botanical life. Carney is currently reconstructing the cultural history and plant food used by Northwest Native communities, specifically camas (Camassia quamash), a bulb plant that has been […]

WSU’s first Fulbright-Hays scholar

Anthropology doctoral candidate Daphne Weber is headed to Thailand as WSU’s first recipient of a Fulbright-Hays award, part of the renowned Fulbright suite of awards. Weber will spend a year living with and interviewing Thai female monks, formally known as bhikkhuni. She will conduct extensive research for her PhD dissertation on the healing effects of […]

Research and innovation highlights

As COVID-19 swept the nation in March 2020, faculty with ongoing studies were required to put them on hold or pivot to make the research relevant to the pandemic. “Science and teamwork are our best hope for a way forward,” said WSU President Kirk Schulz in October 2020. “I am incredibly proud of our faculty […]