Las Vegas is one of the most exciting cities in the world, and we are part of the excitement! Our departmental faculty conduct interesting and exciting research in anthropology locally, nationally, and internationally. Much of our research is interdisciplinary, so if you attend UNLV, you will have an opportunity to gain experience in many different aspects of anthropology and will be trained to approach human behavior in cross-cultural, collaborative, and innovative ways.
Sound exciting? We think so! Find out more about us and what we do!
Barbara Roth, Professor and Chair
Diversity of Studies
We study a diverse range of topics, from Neolithic communities in Turkey, Cyprus, and Jordon to fatherhood, health, and violence in the ancient Southwest and Iraq; diabetes and obesity, Hadza foraging activities, prehistoric hunter-gatherers in the Great Basin; the evolution and bioarchaeology of childhood, ethnoarchaeological research in Alaska; Turkana pastoralists, Thai temples, and their role in Thai identity; identity and love in China; and pit-house and pueblo occupations in the Southwest. What links us is our fascination with all aspects of human behavior — past, present, and future. Our faculty regularly do fieldwork all around the world — and often take students with them into the field — providing many diverse and exciting opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students.
The Community
When you aren’t in class or doing research with one of our professors, there is much to see and experience in and around Las Vegas! Southern Nevada is a wonderful environment for hiking, rock climbing, and boating, with Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire State Park, and Lake Mead Recreation Area all within driving distance. There is a vibrant arts community, with world-renowned shows, independent film houses, galleries, and museums — all surrounding the university.