Anthropology and Archaeology, BA (Hons)

The overlap between anthropology and archaeology makes them excellent subjects for a Joint Honours degree, combining modules from BA/BSc Anthropology and BA Archaeology to offer a comprehensive view of human history and society. Students gain a solid foundation in the theory and practice of both disciplines, including their interconnections, while in the second year, they deepen their knowledge of methods and theory through optional modules and an integrated course on the disciplines' relationships. In the final year, students design and execute their own dissertation research, potentially including a residential field course, and engage with departmental seminars for inspiration.Year 1 core modules introduce anthropological history, research methods, world prehistory, and archaeological techniques, alongside optional topics like human evolution and ancient civilisations. Assessments encompass essays, exams, research projects, and outreach activities, fostering transferable skills, with final-year support for independent dissertation work.

Year 1 Core modules: Being Human: An Introduction to the History and Practice of Anthropology provides an overview of the history of anthropology, including the major theoretical developments and debates, and how these affect the practice of anthropology today. Doing Anthropological Research provides hands-on training in anthropological research methods, both quantitative and qualitative. This module will prepare you for future research projects including fieldwork and your dissertation, and allow you to develop highly transferable research skills. Discovering World Prehistory introduces world prehistory from the emergence of humankind to the rise of early states. Introduction to Archaeological Methods and Scientific Methods in Archaeology provide a grounding in a range of methods and techniques used in archaeology today, and will help you develop a critical awareness of the potential and limitations of each. In recent years, optional modules have included: Peoples and Cultures Human Evolution and Diversity Health, Illness and Society Ancient Civilisations of the East Archaeology in Britain Cities in Antiquity Medieval to Modern: An Introduction to the Archaeology of Medieval to Post Medieval World.