Anthropology roundup: “Saving Syria’s Antiquities

The turmoil and ruthless slaughter that is destroying both lives and heritage in Syria has multiple consequences. Beyond the humanitarian crisis, which is huge, there is widespread looting of antiquities in a country where there is a valuable heritage. Dr. Amr Al-Azm has started a campaign to save these antiquities. Details below. Click here to sign the petition to the UN.

Taking Action to Preserve Heritage Sites in Mosul

American Anthropological Association by Joslyn O.  

The American Anthropological Association’s  Cultural Heritage Task Force writes to U.S. Secretary of State encouraging the United States to take action in preserving the cultural heritage sites in Mosul, Iraq. Below is a preview, read the entire letter (PDF)

Barry Hewlett: The anthropologist who joined the ebola outbreak team

Savage Minds: Notes and Queries in Anthropology

Anthropology surfaced briefly in the mainstream media earlier this week when NPR ran a story entitled “Why anthropologists join an ebola outbreak team“. It was a good story with some useful links. But I thought I’d dig a little deeper and talk more about Barry Hewlett, the anthropologist who joined the ebola outbreak team, his work, and what it says about the value of anthropology.

Anthropology: The sad truth about uncontacted tribes

BBC News

“Almost all human communities have been in some contact with one another for as long as we have historical or archaeological records,” says Alex Golub, an anthropologist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Human prehistory is not like that game

Interview with Alice Conklin on the History of Anthropology, Ethnology, and Race

WKNO FM

Alice Conklin’s newest book, In the Museum of Man: Race,Anthropology, and Empire in France, 1850-1950, tells the story of how the discipline of anthropology and Paris’ ethnographic museum par excellence, the Museum of Man, are wound into the history

Finding The Anthropology In Latin Dance Music

NPR

Jorge Drexler’s songs have been called introspective and literate. He’s been compared to Paul Simon. But a couple years ago, the Uruguayan musician began to wonder what it would take to write dance-oriented music. That’s the assignment he gave himself .