Archaeology - MA (Hons)

The University of Edinburgh

Our archaeology programme offers you an opportunity to study the human past, and gain the skills and techniques required to discover, recover and analyse material remains.While historians are primarily concerned with oral, written and transcribed accounts of the past, archaeologists use artefacts, ecofacts (such as plant and animal remains), buildings, sites, and human remains to study the lives and societies of past peoples.Archaeologists are uniquely positioned to provide deep-time perspectives on contemporary global challenges such as climate change, migration, identity and heritage**What the programme covers**In this programme you will:* develop critical thinking skills that will be applied to understanding some of the world's best-known and significant archaeological sites and discoveries* learn about the tools and skills archaeologists use to discover and excavate archaeological sites, as well as understanding how artefacts were made and used* explore how humans in the past interacted with their environments and adapted during periods of climate change* develop your knowledge of human societies across time from the Palaeolithic (the Old Stone Age) through to the complex civilizations of the Bronze Age and later periodsOur teaching is multidisciplinary, reflecting the broad range of disciplines that underpin archaeological method, theory and practice.You can study a broad range of time periods and different approaches to reconstructing the past. These include:* human evolution* later hunter-gatherers* the first farmers* the later prehistoric societies of the Iron AgeOur geographical scope reaches from the north of Scotland over central and southern Europe, the western and eastern Mediterranean to Egypt and the Near East. We also specialise in osteology, the study of the skeletal remains of humans, animals and cultural heritage studies.In Years 3 and 4, you can choose to specialise in a specific time period, geographic area or culture.**Practical skills**We emphasise the importance of training in practical archaeological skills.Fieldwork, practical skills, and lab-based learning are core elements of the programme, and there is the option to focus on these areas in later years of study.You will have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in artefact identification and analysis in practical sessions using artefacts from our own Vere Gordon Childe collection.**Fieldwork**You will complete three weeks of archaeological fieldwork at the end of Year 1. In later years of study, you will also have the option to do:* further fieldwork* projects in heritage management and public engagement* lab-based analysis of archaeological remains**Programme benefits*** Uncover the latest thinking on the world’s most spectacular archaeological sites.* Reconstruct the past using the latest archaeological tools and skills.* Complete archaeological fieldwork in the UK or abroad.* Gain hands-on experience with our artefacts, and human and animal collections, developing skills in the identification and analysis of archaeological remains.* Visit the National Museum of Scotland for classes and field trips.

School of History, Classics and Archaeology