Overview

The BA (Hons) Heritage and Archaeology at the University of York combines the study of archaeological evidence with the ways heritage is understood, protected and interpreted. The course explores how material remains, historic places and cultural practices can reveal information about the past while examining the responsibilities involved in managing and communicating heritage.

What You'll Learn

• Archaeological methods for investigating people, societies, sites and material remains.

• Artefacts, buildings, landscapes and other forms of evidence used to understand the past.

• Fieldwork, excavation, survey, recording and interpretation of archaeological evidence.

• Heritage theory and different approaches to understanding cultural and archaeological heritage.

• Conservation and management of historic sites, objects and cultural resources.

• The social, political and cultural significance of heritage and its interpretation.

• Ways archaeological and heritage evidence can be researched, presented and communicated to different audiences.

• Research methods, critical analysis, independent investigation and professional communication.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to investigate archaeological evidence and evaluate its significance within wider heritage contexts. They will understand how artefacts, sites, landscapes and cultural practices contribute to interpretations of the past and how heritage can be valued and managed in different ways. Students will develop practical and analytical skills for recording, assessing and interpreting archaeological and heritage evidence. They will also be able to examine competing perspectives on heritage, conduct independent research and construct well-supported arguments. The course enables students to communicate archaeological and heritage ideas clearly while recognising the cultural, social and historical factors that influence how the past is preserved, interpreted and presented.