Department of Anthropology

WWAY followed UNCW anthropology students in Professor Nora Reber's field school at the Brunswick Town and Fort Anderson State Historic Site as they excavated artifacts that help paint a more detailed picture of local history.

Nora Reber, professor of anthropology, presented her lecture "Brunswick Town Slavery-Era Archaeological Findings" at the 2026 North Carolina Rice Festival. The event educates attendees about rice cultivation in Brunswick County and the Gullah Geechee cultural heritage central to it.

Celebrate UNCW Homecoming with the Anthropology Department! Join us as we welcome home two of our alumni who are now emerging scholars in academia, including refreshments and a Q&A session.

Alemseged Aleho, lecturer of anthropology, was recognized for being among the top five authors of the most peer-reviewed journal publications  in the College of Humanities, Sciences, and the Arts at the 2025 UNCW Research Celebration.

Scott Simmons, professor of anthropology, gave a public presentation on his recent research on the San Pedro archaeological site at the San Pedro House of Culture in Belize on Oct. 6. Students involved in Simmons's research there helped to sharpen our understanding of Maya life on Belize's largest offshore cay in the centuries just prior to Spanish contact, as well as our knowledge of the ways Caste War (1847-1901) refugees adapted to their new lives on a large island in northern Belize.

Leland Rogers, assistant professor of anthropology, is conducting research in the new Ancient DNA Laboratory. His research focuses on ancient collection samples sourced from diverse locations to analyze local population dynamics in relation to the data available from published databases.