Guides: Anthropology: Find Background Information

In This Guide

You'll find:

Resources to help you explore a new research topic
Databases and journals in the field of anthropology
Help citing your sources

Anthropology Reference Sources

Specialized dictionaries, encyclopedias, and subject bibliographies can be helpful in choosing and narrowing a topic. Reading in the specialized reference materials introduces background information and can provide key concepts or keywords to use in your search. This is just a selection. Search the reference databases below for more sources.

Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology
Call Number: E-book
Publication Date: 2010
Combining anthropological theory and ethnography, this title includes substantial entries, short biographies of important figures in anthropology, and glossary items
Encyclopedia of World Cultures Supplement
ISBN: 9780816888405
This reference set lists and describes more than 1,500 global cultures. Based on research of social scientists, it is the source for historical, social, political, economic, linguistic, religious, and other information on virtually every existing culture.
The Oxford Companion to Archaeology
ISBN: 0195076184
eaturing 700 authoritative articles written by hundreds of respected scholars from all over the world. Provides authoritative, stimulating entries on a range of subjects, including engaging biographies of the great figures in the field, extensive coverage of the methods used in archaeological research, together with essays that examine human evolution and the many general facets of culture.
Encyclopedia of Medical Anthropology
Describes the cultural practices relevant to health in the world's cultures and provides an overview of important topics in medical anthropology.

General Online Reference Sources

Gale Virtual Reference Library
A collection of over 3,000 reference works, covering all disciplines.
Credo Reference
An online collection of over 600 full-text reference works, including encyclopedias, dictionaries, and more.
Oxford Reference Online
This online source provides access to subject and language reference works from Oxford University Press. In addition to text, access is provided to maps and illustrations, timelines, web sites, and bibliographies.
Encyclopaedia Britannica