Anthropology and Applied Archaeology

Our online lithics catalogue is now available.

Anthropology, the study of humanity past and present, has four subdivisions:

• Archaeology: The study of past cultures
• Physical Anthropology: The study of the human physical variation
• Ethnology: The cross-cultural study of today's societies
• Linguistics: The study of human communication as one important aspect of peoples and culture

From these viewpoints, the discipline brings together studies of peoples into a meaningful whole. Because of this orientation, anthropology is steadily growing in importance in education, industry, business, and national and international government, as well as in politics.

Instruction is supplemented by an anthropological research division known as the Agency for Conservation Archaeology, as well as anthropological museums: the Blackwater Draw Museum, the Miles Anthropological Museum, and the Blackwater Draw National Historical Landmark site (the Clovis archaeological type site).

Research plays an important part in the department. Heavy emphasis is placed upon pre-Columbian Native American archaeological studies and the Southwestern United States. The University's location provides a unique vantage point for studying the peopling of the New World. All faculty members of the department are involved in research on a national and/or international basis.

The department offers a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts and a social studies major that leads to a B.A. or B.S. with secondary teaching licensure. The 36-hour social studies major prepares a student for endorsement in general social studies. A new interdisciplinary degree in Forensic Science with an emphasis in Anthropology is also offered.

Faculty are involved in both qualitative and quantitative research within their disciplines. Their areas of research include archaeology, cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, historic preservation and cultural resource management. A listing of current undergraduate Anthropology courses is available online. For more information on admissions and degree requirements, please check the online catalogs or ENMU admissions Web site.

In addition, we have a staff of experienced archaeologists and field technicians working at Blackwater Draw Locality No. 1 and the Agency for Conservation Archaeology who provide students with opportunities for field experience and training.

View the Bachelor of Science in Anthropology Degree Plan.

Recent Activities

In February 2008, Dr. Douglas Schwartz presented the 9th annual Cynthia Irwin-Williams Lecture titled "Researching at the Edge of Splendor: Discovering Grand Canyon Prehistory".Dr. Schwartz's visit was sponsored by the Anthropology and Applied Archaeology Department, Mu Alpha Nu Anthropology Club, and the Office of the President. Dr. Schwartz is President Emeritus and Senior Scholar at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Contact Us

For more information, please contact us at:

Anthropology and Applied Archaeology
ENMU Station 3
1500 S Ave K
Portales, NM 88130
575.562.2206
Kathy.Durand@enmu.edu