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Introducing the Subject

The Faculty of Archaeology & Anthropology provides students with an exciting opportunity to break new ground at University. Archaeology imaginatively harnesses new techniques and theories in its quest to understand the human past. Biological Anthropology unravels the processes of human evolution and investigates crucial contemporary issues such as disease and nutrition. Social Anthropology studies the contemporary world in its social and cultural complexity through the comparative study of societies and cultures in all parts of the world. All three disciplines address, from their distinct perspectives, fundamental questions about the human condition (As Gauguin asked: "Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?"). Archaeologists and anthropologists approach these questions in a concrete and immediate way, studying the lived experience of humans and the organisation of human societies. We endeavour to explain the enormous variability and diversity of human cultures in time and space, as well as acknowledging an essential unity amongst human beings world-wide.

At Cambridge, the three disciplines - Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, and Social Anthropology - are joined together in a single Faculty. First-year undergraduates study all three subjects in parallel, with a choice of a fourth course that focuses either upon an inter-disciplinary paper exploring common themes (such as gender and life-cycles) from the perspective of each discipline, or a paper on social theory.

After the first year, students choose one of the disciplines for two more years of in-depth study (although second-year students may 'borrow' one paper from one of the other disciplines). Choosing to specialise in social or biological anthropology or archaeology at Cambridge means not only an in-depth learning experience conducted through lectures, seminars, reading and writing, but also substantial hands-on or practical experience using museum collections. In addition, Archaeology students participate in excavations throughout the world as part of their second-year course, and students in all three disciplines are strongly encouraged to travel during summer vacations. Many students use this travel as the basis for independent field research projects that serve as the basis for writing a dissertation during the third year.

Cambridge students digging in Argentina.

"Arch & Anth" at Churchill

Churchill is an excellent place to study Arch & Anth. At any time, there are about 10-12 undergraduates reading Arch & Anth, as well as a handful of post-graduate students and research fellows. The College is fortunate to have four Fellows in the College in the subject, covering each of the disciplines (Archaeology, Social Anthropology, and Biological Anthropology). Three of us are actively engaged in teaching and research in the University as well as in the College, while the fourth is retired but continues to teach undergraduates. Part I students get to know us through 'supervisions', or tutorials involving 1-2 students. We treat our students as individuals, helping them at all stages to choose courses, advising about possible independent study projects, and helping them find funding for summer travel or research. The Arch & Anth community within the college is a lively, convivial group; at least once a term, we have dinner as group in College. The College also has Fellows in related disciplines, including Social & Political Sciences and Classics; their interests often dovetail with those of our students.

Urban wedding in Malawi, Southern Africa.


Nyau Dance in Malawi, Southern Africa.

Applying and the Interview Process

Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds and interests. Because archaeology and anthropology are not school subjects, we do not require any specific A-level subjects. However, applicants usually will have studied languages, history, economics, or geography. Others will have studied a mix of arts and science subjects. The standard entry requirements are available here. More broadly we welcome applications from students who are interested in analysing and understanding the world around them in all of its cultural, social, historical and environmental diversity and complexity. The College also encourages applicants who have already independently pursued an interest in archaeology or anthropology, either through reading, visits to museums, or volunteer work in museums, at archaeological sites, or through development or conservation work.

We interview most applicants to Churchill. You will not need any special preparation for your interview. Before the interview, you will be given time to read a few pages from an ethnographic text, which will serve as the basis for a discussion during the 30-minute interview. Usually two Fellows will conduct the interview, including the Director of Studies. You will also be asked some questions about your schoolwork and school subjects; other questions may address your personal statement or more general topics related to your academic background and interests. Deferred applications are encouraged at Churchill. We especially encourage students to use their gap year to gain experience in subject-related activities (such as travel, archaeological fieldwork, museums or volunteer work).

Churchill anthropologists in the field, past and present.

Teaching Fellows

	Dr Elizabeth DeMarrais, Archaeology I am a Lecturer in the Department of Archaeology and Director of Studies for Part I students, as well as Part II Archaeology and Biological Anthropology students at Churchill. I teach 'Ancient South America' and 'Archaeology of Mesoamerica and North America' in the Department, and I supervise Churchill students in a range of topics in archaeology, including Part I. Since 1993, I have been directing an archaeological field project in the Calchaquí Valley, located in the Andes of north-west Argentina. This project investigates the rise of social inequality and the emergence of centralised polities in the centuries before the Inka conquest (ca. AD 1430). Currently I am excavating the site of Borgatta to understand the organisation of the community and to identify material evidence for incipient social inequality and leadership. The fieldwork involves mapping and excavation of public buildings and plazas, earthen mounds, and houses within this large settlement of approximately 1000 inhabitants. Cambridge students have accompanied me to Argentina in recent years, some of them undertaking independent projects to analyse artefacts ranging from obsidian to pottery to faunal remains (animal bones). My other research interests include archaeological theory, architecture, and pottery studies. For more information please see the website for the project.
	Dr Harri Englund, Social Anthropology I am a Lecturer in Social Anthropology and Director of Studies for Part II Social Anthropology students at Churchill. I have conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Southern and East Africa, primarily in Malawi but also in Mozambique and Zambia. My research interests range from political and economic anthropology to the study of religion and popular culture. My initial fieldwork was among refugees who had fled Mozambique's civil war. I became interested to understand the impact of large-scale political and economic developments on the relationships and livelihoods of African peasants. This interest has involved further work on the political culture of emerging democracies, the relation between urbanisation and rural poverty, and the appeal of charismatic Christianity among the urban poor. Currently I work on a project which examines the ways in which the idea of human rights is defined when non-governmental organisations (NGOs) seek to educate people about their rights, and how human rights are understood and claimed by the poor themselves. Broader theoretical and methodological issues in ethnographic description have been a part of my work on all these topics.
	Professor Nick Mascie-Taylor, Biological Anthropology Professor Nick Mascie-Taylor is Head of the Department of Biological Anthropology and Professor of Population Biology and Health. His main research interests are in epidemiology, nutrition, growth, reproductive ecology & biosocial studies. Among his current research projects are: investigating methods for the control of disease in Bangladesh, evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of health programmes, and a study of the impact of maternal nutritional supplementation in reducing low birth weights. Professor Mascie-Taylor is also setting up a global database on adult Body Mass Index (BMI) with the World Health Organization (BMI is used as a proxy to define under- or overweight). He teaches first-year students in the Biological Anthropology course, and also lectures advanced undergraduates on a range of subjects. He travels widely as part of his research; recent destinations have included Bangladesh, Thailand, Switzerland, Japan, France, Denmark and Saudi Arabia.
	Dr Ray Abrahams, Social Anthropology Dr Abrahams is retired from a full-time position in the University Department of Social Anthropology, but continues to teach Churchill undergraduates. He has carried out field research in East Africa, Finland and Estonia. His research interests include vigilantism and other features of relations between local communities and the State, post-Soviet society, witchcraft, family property and personal identity. He has a website here.