Department of Anthropology

DEPARTMENTAL PROFILE

Vision and Mission Statement

To understand scientifically the biological and cultural diversities of the people of Northeast India (former Assam), which will help not merely in creating a better understanding among the people but also in development activities of the region.

Objectives

The Department was established with the University itself in 1948 with the twin objectives of:

Propagating scientific study of man.
Paving the way for region specific studies and research into prehistoric antecedents and contemporary biological and cultural diversities of the then Assam, i.e., the Northeastern region of today.
History

Anthropology as a formal academic discipline in undivided Assam, now Northeast India began with the establishment of the Department of Anthropology at Gauhati University in 1948 with Professor M.C. Goswami as its founder Head, initially with provisions for teaching only degree pass and honours courses. In 1956, Postgraduate courses were opened with specialization in Physical and Social Anthropology. In 1966, another branch of specialization in Prehistoric archaeology was opened. This was followed by opening of another specialization in Applied Anthropology in 1969, which is lying idle now.

The department has grown into a major centre providing facilities for the study and research in Physical Anthropology. Social and Cultural Anthropology, Archaeological Anthropology and Applied Anthropology. It has also built up a rich Anthropological museum of ethnographic, archaeological and physical anthropological materials, acquired mostly from different territories of Northeast India.

Facilities & Assets

Teaching Room

The department of Anthropology has five classrooms for teaching of Postgraduate classes of general and special papers. For the classes of prehistoric archaeology the room at the ground floor is associated with a rich ethnographic museum, which is used for Museology classes together with display of varieties of exhibits from Northeast India.

Laboratory
For the teaching and research of Physical anthropology and Prehistoric archaeology and Museology there are altogether five laboratories available in the department.

Computer Lab

Two computer labs with 7 Computers having Internet facilities are available.

Anthropological Museum

The Department, in the course of its 61 years of existence, has procured a rich collection of archaeological and ethnographic materials from the northeastern region of India. This museum offers excellent opportunities of research in archaeology and ethnography.

Seminar Library

There is also a seminar library in the department where a good number of books, journals and periodicals are available for reference and research materials.

Alumni

Alumni Association, Department of Anthropology formed in 2007.