Anthropology
How Indigenous Knowledge Could Save Fishing
We need both modern data and the wisdom of the First Nations to preserve aquatic ecosystems
This Mummy’s Tattoos Are Better Than Yours
Lasers reveal hidden details of ancient body ink
How Big Is Your Family?
Living with a Papua New Guinea tribe in the ’80s presented this anthropologist with a question for today.
An Archaeological Reckoning
Jennifer Raff is on a mission to rewrite the history of human origins in the Americas.
Excavating a Language at the End of the World
How an old dictionary is revealing new perspectives on an Indigenous culture.
The Lion Who Would Save the World
An anthropologist shows how bonding with another species could help humans come together.
A New Look at One of the Oldest Weapons
What a 300,000-year-old throwing stick reveals about our near-human ancestors.
What Spider Games Say About Arachnophobia
Many people around the world fear spiders. But in the Philippines, the tradition of spider wrestling often brings people and arachnids in close proximity.
What Intense Rituals Signal to Your Brain
Risky and stressful ceremonies help crystallize who we are—and heal us, too.
The Real Magic of Rituals
We might call them superstitions or spells, but they genuinely drum anxiety away.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
An anthropologist schooled in spiritual healing offers wisdom for troubled times.
