Overview

The BA (Hons) Archaeology at the University of Exeter examines past human societies through material remains, archaeological sites, landscapes and scientific evidence. The course combines practical investigation with historical and theoretical perspectives, helping students understand how archaeological evidence is discovered, analysed and used to interpret changes in human life and societies.

What You'll Learn

• Archaeological methods for locating, investigating and interpreting sites and landscapes.

• Fieldwork techniques, including excavation, survey, recording and practical archaeological investigation.

• Human development from early societies through later historical periods and major cultural changes.

• Analysis of artefacts, monuments, settlements, landscapes and biological evidence.

• Scientific approaches to archaeological and forensic evidence, including methods for identifying and analysing materials.

• Archaeological dating, chronology and approaches to establishing sequences of past activity.

• Heritage, museums and the ways archaeological knowledge is presented, accessed and debated.

• Research methods, critical evaluation, independent investigation and archaeological communication.

• Specialist areas such as material culture, forensic archaeology and selected regional or thematic archaeological studies.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to investigate archaeological questions using appropriate fieldwork, scientific and analytical approaches. They will understand how different forms of evidence can be combined to reconstruct aspects of past societies, environments and cultural change. Students will develop practical skills in observing, recording and interpreting archaeological evidence and will be able to assess the strengths and limitations of different research methods. They will also be able to evaluate competing interpretations, conduct independent archaeological research and construct evidence-based arguments. The course develops the ability to communicate archaeological findings clearly while considering how knowledge about the past is created, interpreted and presented.