What is the role of a historical anthropologist?

A historical anthropologist primarily focuses on studying post-contact indigenous cultures that have their histories recorded. This involves examining how these cultures have interacted with outside influences and how historical events have shaped their social, political, and economic structures. These anthropologists utilize various sources, including written records, oral histories, and archaeological evidence, to gain insights into the complexities of these cultures during and after contact with other societies.

This approach allows for a nuanced understanding of cultural continuity and change, emphasizing the importance of historical context in anthropology. By analyzing recorded histories, historical anthropologists can uncover the impacts of colonialism, globalization, and other factors on indigenous practices and identities, thus enriching the broader understanding of human societies.

In contrast, studying prehistoric cultures exclusively focuses on societies that existed before written records, which is outside the scope of historical anthropology. Examining ancient languages is more aligned with linguistics, and focusing solely on artifacts pertains to archaeology, as both areas may not incorporate the historical context that is crucial for understanding cultures that have recorded histories.