If you’re interested in the story of human beings; how we evolved, why we live in different sorts of societies around the world, and how we interact with one another and the environment, then Archaeology & Anthropology is the course for you.
You’ll be able to combine cultural and biological anthropology with archaeology to study human cultures from the present day back to the evolutionary origins of humanity. This produces graduates with highly sought-after transferable skills including critical analysis, communication and collaboration.
This course benefits from state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. These include dedicated human bone labs, an archaeological science lab with areas for processing finds, a soil flotation unit, an imaging suite with 3D scanners and a suite of cutting-edge geophysical and excavation equipment.
The course is divided equally between modules in archaeology and anthropology and is accredited by both the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, and the University Archaeology UK. You’ll acquire analytical and interpretive techniques to understand the nature and origins of people across selected time periods, developing the skills you need to understand the nature and origins of anthropological and archaeological evidence.
Why study with us
- Our Archaeology courses are ranked 6th in the UK for overall satisfaction, top nationally for organisation and management and 3rd for learning opportunities (NSS 2022).
- Our teaching collection includes one of the largest anthropological collections of human remains in the country.
- We offer a selection of local, national and international fieldwork. Previous students have undertaken archaeological excavations at Stonehenge, tombs in Orkney and caves in California.
What you’ll do
- Teaching is research-informed, practical and genuinely international in outlook. You’ll get to work alongside professionals in the field, including anthropologists, archaeologists and museum staff.
- All students get to undertake a four week placement at an excavation site working alongside teaching staff and professionals from an archaeological organisation or museum.
- You’ll have the flexibility to delve into the specialist areas that interest you most, with optional units in everything from the anthropology of animals to the study of hunter-gatherers around the world.
Module overview
Compulsory modules
• FZ1201: The Archaeology of Britain
• FZ1203: History of Archaeological Thought
• FZ1205: Bones, Bodies and Burial
• FZ1206: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
• FZ1207: Field Archaeology 1
Year 2
Compulsory modules
• FZ2051: Forensic Anthropology
• FZ2211: Cultural Anthropology in Theory and Practice
• FZ2217: Field Archaeology 2
• FZ2219: Archaeological Materials
Optional modules
• FZ2207: Hunter-gatherers: Past and Present
• FZ2213: Geometrics
• FZ2214: Archaeology and Anthropology of Animals
• FZ2215: The Archaeology of Death and the Dead Body
• FZ2216: World Archaeology and Art
• FZ2218: Themes in British Archaeology 1
• FZ2220: Introduction to Professional Practice
Year 3
Compulsory modules
• FZ3202: Dissertation
• FZ3212: Debates in Anthropology
Optional modules
• FZ3203: Hunter-Gatherers: Past and Present
•
FZ3206: Introduction to Professional Practice
• FZ3213: Geomatics
• FZ3214: Archaeology and Anthropology of Animals
• FZ3215: The Archaeology of Death and the Dead Body
• FZ3216: World Archaeology and Art
• FZ3217: Field Archaeology 3
• FZ3218: Themes in British Archaeology 2
• FZ3300: Applied Forensic Anthropology: Taphonomy and Human Remains Recovery
Course delivery
Following the pandemic, we have found that some courses benefit from a blended learning and teaching approach. Therefore, the majority of your teaching will be face-to-face on campus aside from a small amount of online teaching where we have learnt it works best.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
Future careers
Graduates looking to pursue a career in archaeology have gone on to work for contracting archaeological organisations and museums all over the world.
Those with an interest in anthropology have gone on to pursue roles in museums, conservation, heritage management and other graduate-level careers.
A high proportion of our graduates work in the public and not-for-profit sectors, such as the civil service, local and central government, charities, universities, international and voluntary organisations, or museums. Others have undertaken research degrees.
There are more archaeological career opportunities available in the UK than you might think – according to the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), the archaeological profession provides more than 6,000 jobs contributing over £100 million to the UK economy every year.
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