With its roots in 19 th century exploration, anthropology is entering the 21 st century making important contributions to human well-being, economic growth, and mutual understanding of peoples around the world. Anthropology consists of a number of subfields, each of which examines a separate facet of humanity. Archaeology is the study of the human past, examining early peoples and ancient civilizations through the physical remains they have left behind. Biological anthropology examines both human origins, and the physical variation of modern populations. By understanding our origins as a biological species, physical anthropology makes important contributions to improving human health, nutrition, and adaptation to diverse environments.
Linguistic anthropology studies the diversity of human languages and styles of communication.
Thousands of languages and dialects are found around the globe today. Understanding the possibilities, limitations, and barriers to human communication is a vital issue for every member of a global society. Social anthropology, also known as cultural anthropology, attempts to explain the variations in custom and lifeways among contemporary peoples. Using the techniques of ethnographic fieldwork, cultural anthropologists live in the villages and communities of the people they study, learn the language, and through extended observation develop an in-depth understanding of the culture and social organization. Social anthropologists additionally are concerned with how different societies relate to and interact with each other economically, politically, and in other ways.