BA in Anthropology (Barnard)- Archaeology in New York United States | Columbia University

In anthropology, archaeologists focus on examining human societies by analyzing the physical environments they create, utilize, inhabit, and abandon. While this emphasis on artifacts has traditionally been paired with investigations into ancient history—particularly the extensive pre-literate eras where archaeological evidence serves as our only window into humanity's diverse communities and evolutionary paths—the distant past remains central. However, modern archaeologists now also apply their material-based approaches to critically assess more recent historical periods. Written records often reflect elite perspectives, whereas archaeological findings provide a more inclusive glimpse into the lives of marginalized groups through their physical traces. Over the last quarter-century, many researchers have expanded their work to study contemporary material culture and our complex interactions with objects. Present-day archaeologists now explore—both physically and conceptually—the material world as it actively takes shape and sparks debate.