Field Archaeology

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The MA in Field Archaeology is a flexible course, devised to meet demand for professional training at home and abroad: essentially, we aim to produce the next generation of accomplished, aware project designers and managers that the fieldwork profession so desperately needs worldwide.

This course will give you a thorough knowledge of how, and why, archaeological fieldwork has developed over time and acquaint you with the major methodologies employed within modern fieldwork and what they mean for accomplished project design.

In addition, it will introduce you to the analysis of stratigraphic and spatial data, and to the potential of assemblage analyses for social interpretation. This will help you to understand how research agendas, organisational factors and new technologies are changing ways in which field data is ordered and analysed, and expose you to the critical concepts deployed in the analysis, dissemination and archiving of archaeological field data.

Over the autumn and spring terms you will take:

* two core 20 credit modules
* two option 20 credit modules
* four 5 credit skills modules
* one or two optional 10 credit placement modules

In the summer you will carry out research for your dissertation and give an Assessed Lecture on your dissertation topic.

Core modules
* The context and practice of gathering field archaeology data
* Analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of field archaeology data

Recommended option modules
* Digital publication and web technologies
* The archaeology of human bones
* Bones: matters of life and death
* Cultural heritage management 1: concepts, principles and practice
* Analysing historic buildings

* Analysis and visualisation
* Bones: from data to interpretation
* Cultural heritage management 2: museums, audiences and interpretation
* Interpreting historic buildings
* Medieval settlement and communities

Recommended skills modules
* Narating our pasts
* Topographical Survey
* Working on the web
* Artefacts
* Artefacts from excavation
* Geophysical survey
* Geoarchaeology
* Geographical information systems (GIS)
* Perspectives in landscape research

Whilst we endeavour to give everyone their first choice on modules, please note that this cannot always be guaranteed. Please be aware that certain skills modules are required by particular programmes, and so may be more over-subscribed than others. Please see the Full modules list for scheduling information on option and skills modules, as some run concurrently.

Work experience placement
Field archaeology placement

* A good honours degree (upper second or first) or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution in archaeology or a related field * Mature students or those with less conventional qualifications but with relevant professional experience in this field will be considered * Candidates lacking sufficient previous experience will be required to spend at least three weeks prior to entry on either one of the Department's own training excavations or another approved project * Most applicants are interviewed, unless living or working overseas. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.