Archaeology

Overview

Our Archaeology MPhil and PhD programmes are research degrees. They are conducted as supervised independent study and are assessed through a single written document that is supported with a viva voce examination.

Both degrees involve the production of new knowledge through original research and advanced scholarship, exploring a field of academic study in detail. This involves detailed understanding of the methods, techniques and approaches needed to produce such knowledge, and the wider context of the subject of study.

Our PhD students produce a thesis which includes material worthy of academic publication. A PhD qualification is usually necessary for an academic career involving post-doctoral research and/or lecturing.

This is a perfect programme to advance your academic career in archaeology. You will also develop employability skills including:

• project management
• report writing
• problem-solving
• independent working
• research

These programmes are based in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology. They cover a wide range of specialisms.

Research supervision in a range of periods, regions and themes.

Research supervision is available in the following periods and regions:

• World prehistory from the Palaeolithic to the Iron Age
• Archaeology of the Greek world including Minoan and Mycenaean civilisations
• Archaeology of the Roman world from the Republic to Late Antiquity
• Roman frontier studies
• Byzantine and Islamic archaeology
• Medieval archaeology, 500-1500 CE
• Historical archaeology of the modern world
• Archaeology of Europe, North America, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Asia and Africa

Thematic research is also strong at Newcastle and research supervision is available in the following areas of enquiry:

• Archaeological theory and history of archaeology
• Archaeology of art, religion and ritual
• Archaeology of buildings and the built environment
• Bodies, burial and identity
• Colonialism and slavery
• Conflict archaeology from prehistory to the 21st century
• Environmental and geoarchaeology: plants, animals and sediments
• Experimental archaeology and past technologies
• Foodways, pastoralism and upland archaeology
• Human-animal relationships from the Palaeolithic to present day
• Landscape archaeology, GIS, remote sensing and survey methods
• Landscape heritage, management and sustainability
• Material culture and artefact analysis: ceramics, lithics, metals, glass and coins
• Museum collections and historic archives
• Social organisation and social complexity
• Zooarchaeology and animal bone pathology

We encourage you to contact a prospective supervisor to discuss your research proposals prior to applying for a research degree.

Profiles of our staff, who will supervise you, are available on the School website. You can also view our current postgraduate research projects and our recent postgraduate research projects.

Inter-disciplinary research is supported. Research projects can be co-supervised by staff from other subject areas, such as history, ancient history, classics, or fine art.