USC Department of Anthropology

09/04/2026

Did you know that anthropology students are uncovering history right here on campus? Students in Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Kelly Goldberg’s Honors College archaeology course recently excavated 19th-century artifacts near the Horseshoe, including ceramics, glass, buttons, animal bones, and more. Their discoveries will be featured in an exhibit at the South Caroliniana Library and Museum this spring.

Watch WIS News 10’s story to see how our students are bringing USC’s past to light: Digging near USC’s Horseshoe leads to 1800s-era relics

://www.wistv.com/2026/09/01/digging-near-usc-horseshoe-leads-1800s-era-relics/

Honors College anthropology students were able to glimpse at what life was like on campus during the 19th century.

09/02/2026

The Anthropology Student Association (ASA) enjoyed meeting students at the Fall Student Organization Fair! ASA is a great way to connect with fellow students, learn more about anthropology and related careers, and build leadership and networking experience.

Interested in joining? Follow on Instagram or contact ASA President Brea Stone at [email protected] to learn more.

08/21/2026

Congratulations to our Anthropology McCausland Interns! We are proud to celebrate Anthropology majors Kathlyn Hammett, Brianna Stewart, Brea Stone, and Elizabeth Radecki, who were selected as members of the inaugural cohort of McCausland Interns. Through internships spanning archaeology, publishing, and land conservation, these students are putting their Anthropology education into action and gaining valuable professional experience.

Pictured left to right: Anthropology McCausland Interns: Elizabeth Radecki Brianna Stewart and Kathlyn Hammett. Not pictured: Brea Stone.

08/17/2026

Welcome back, Gamecocks! We’re so excited to kick off a new semester tomorrow with our undergraduate and graduate Anthropology students. Have questions, need directions, or just want to stop by and say hi? You can find the Department of Anthropology on the 4th floor of Gambrell Hall. Our doors are open, and we’re glad you’re here! We wish everyone a great semester of exploring, questioning, connecting, and discovering what makes us human.

08/05/2026

07/24/2026

Fall 2026 Course Spotlight - ANTH 591: Decolonizing the Environment: (Re)imagining environmental histories, cosmologies, and futures (CRN 19802)

ANTH 591: Decolonizing the Environment: (Re)imagining environmental histories, cosmologies, and futures (CRN 19802)

Register by Tuesday, August 4th!

How are colonial and environmental histories connected? What are decolonial ecologies? This discussion-based course explores human-environment relations through these course themes: colonial histories, indigenous ecologies, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), black ecologies, and decolonial futures.

Undergraduates welcome! No prerequisites required. This small, discussion-based course is designed to support interdisciplinary learning and engagement. Films and visual art will also be part of the course experience.

07/24/2026

History isn’t only found in books; it’s waiting underground. Thank you to The Columbia Star for this great coverage of Professor Kelly Goldberg’s archeological dig on the USC Horseshoe. Professor Goldberg’s team includes students and volunteers, who are gaining valuable hands-on experience as they uncover 19th century artifacts that can be studied to shed light on workforce of that time. Archeological research provides an important complement to written sources, especially for enslaved and underrepresented people, whose stories may not be included in recorded history. If you are walking around the Horseshoe this summer, be sure stop by to check out their progress.

“A quiet archaeological excavation over the past three years on USC’s historic Horseshoe has turned up a 19th century-era domino piece, ceramic sherds from serving dishes, tools made from animal bone, glass buttons, and more. It’s also filling gaps in our knowledge about the history of the are...

07/24/2026

Curious about the past? This is your chance to dig in—literally and figuratively.

This Fall 2026, explore the deep history of Native American societies in the southeastern U.S. in Anth 229: Southeastern Archaeology (CRN 26489). Join Dr. Gabby Purcell as we uncover the past through the archaeological record—examining cultural change, belief systems, trade networks, technology, and the impacts of colonization. You’ll even get hands-on experience with artifacts and opportunities to visit significant sites.

Tuesdays & Thursdays | 2:50–4:05 PM
Hamilton 140
3 credits | No prerequisites

07/14/2026

We're excited to share this update from Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary! A special shoutout to recent graduate, Jacob Young, winner of the Outstanding Anthropology Student Award, who is part of the University of South Carolina archaeology team conducting this exciting excavation. We're proud to see Jacob applying his training in the field as the team investigates the rich cultural history of Beidler Forest.

06/24/2026

📚 Fall 2026 Course Spotlight

ANTH 591: Decolonizing the Environment: (Re)imagining environmental histories, cosmologies, and futures (CRN 19802)

How are colonial and environmental histories connected? What are decolonial ecologies? This discussion-based course explores human-environment relations through these course themes: colonial histories, indigenous ecologies, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), black ecologies, and decolonial futures.

Undergraduates welcome! No prerequisites required. This small, discussion-based course is designed to support interdisciplinary learning and engagement. Films and visual art will also be part of the course experience.