Research - Physical Anthropology
Physical anthropology provides a solid grounding in evolutionary theory. Within the broad field of primatology, faculty interests focus on primate social behavior, descriptive and functional anatomy of nonhuman primates, and population genetics. Emeritus faculty interests focus on adaptive human biology, including factors affecting growth and health, and work capacity in contemporary populations. Methodologically, strengths include anthropometry, ethological methods, osteological and dental analysis, comparative primate anatomy, and methods of population genetics. Current field research in primate behavior is being conducted in China and Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. Other resources available include an extensive nonhuman primate skeletal collection, consisting of hundreds of complete macaque skeletons, and a unique collection of over 200, known aged macaque fetuses along with their associated radiographs. In addition, the department is the repository for a nineteenth-century cemetery skeletal collection.