Overview

The BA (Hons) Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Bristol combines the study of past societies with the investigation of human cultures, communities, and behaviour. The foundation stage develops essential academic and analytical skills for examining humanity through archaeological evidence, cultural practices, and anthropological perspectives.

What You'll Learn

• Archaeological approaches to investigating past societies and human activity.

• Anthropology and the study of cultures, communities, beliefs, and social relationships.

• Human evolution, biological development, and variation.

• Archaeological evidence, including artefacts, sites, landscapes, and material culture.

• Cultural anthropology and approaches to understanding contemporary societies.

• Social organisation, identity, belief, and cultural change.

• Methods for collecting, analysing, comparing, and interpreting archaeological and anthropological evidence.

• Research methods, fieldwork approaches, academic writing, and independent investigation.

• Critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and evidence-based problem solving.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to use archaeological and anthropological approaches to investigate human societies across different periods and cultural settings. They will understand how material evidence, cultural practices, and other forms of evidence can be used to explore human behavior, social organization, identity, and change. Students will develop the ability to evaluate evidence critically, recognize different interpretations, and select appropriate methods for addressing questions about humanity and its past and present. They will also be able to conduct structured research, analyze findings, construct evidence-based arguments, and communicate conclusions clearly. By combining archaeology with anthropology, the course will help students develop an integrated perspective on human societies while strengthening their analytical, research, practical, and intercultural skills.