Department of Archaeology Dr Mike Church and Dr Pam Graves Subject Orientation: The Value of a Degree in Archaeology

What use is a degree in archaeology? one of the most varied academic subjects you can study at one of the most varied academic subjects you can study at university university it provides the skills for a wide variety of career opportunities it provides the skills for a wide variety of career opportunities

The archaeological skills portfolio Numeracy and Literacy skills Team work; scientific and drawn recording skills Scientific lab work Material culture studies Physical and Social Anthropology History and Art History Ancient materials and technology

The archaeological skills portfolio Evidence evaluation, advocacy and debate Documentary analysis and evaluation, ancient and modern Interpretation of maps and satellite imagery Geography and landscape analysis Sampling techniques and strategies Development of agriculture and animal domestication Where the Tudors trod - Castles, palaces, abbeys, and townscapes

The archaeological skills portfolio Sociology Environment, economy and ecology Architecture, civil engineering and hydrology Religion, belief and burial customs Skeletal analysis: diet, lifestyle, disease and trauma

Why Archaeology at Durham? Excellent top-rated Archaeology department Excellent top-rated Archaeology department Excellent facilities (library, laboratories) Excellent facilities (library, laboratories) 28 full-time members of academic staff 28 full-time members of academic staff c.60 students per year – very favourable staff : student ratio c.60 students per year – very favourable staff : student ratio

Why Archaeology at Durham? Extremely wide range of research and teaching Extremely wide range of research and teaching Research-led teaching, fieldwork, hands-on Research-led teaching, fieldwork, hands-on Experimental Mesolithic hut, July 2012, 3 rd year UG dissertation

Why Archaeology at Durham? Currently the top-rated archaeology department in the UK for research (Government Research Assessment Exercise)

Why Archaeology at Durham? Ranked 5 th in The Times Good University Guide 2013

Why Archaeology at Durham?

What we offer at Durham Palaeopathology Palaeopathology Prehistory Prehistory Roman & Classical Roman & Classical Medieval & Post-Medieval Medieval & Post-Medieval Near East/Egypt/Ancient India Near East/Egypt/Ancient India Landscape studies Landscape studies Environmental archaeology Environmental archaeology Artefact studies Artefact studies Ancient biomolecules Ancient biomolecules Fieldwork for every Level Fieldwork for every Level We cover an extremely wide range of periods (Lower Palaeolithic to Post-Medieval) and places (Iceland to Sri Lanka) allowing the student to develop their own interests and career direction

What we are looking for Single Honours (BA & BSc) – standard offer AAB IB 36 Students apply with Ancient History, History, Geology, Geography, English, any modern language, Psychology, Drama, Art and Design, General Studies and Critical Thinking – everything! Students apply with Ancient History, History, Geology, Geography, English, any modern language, Psychology, Drama, Art and Design, General Studies and Critical Thinking – everything! Joint Honours (BA) with Anthropology – standard offer AAB IB 36 as above with Anthropology – standard offer AAB IB 36 as above with Ancient History – standard offer AAA IB 37 looking for Classical Civilisation, Ancient History, Ancient Greek, Latin, or History amongst the subjects. General Studies and Critical Thinking not accepted. with Ancient History – standard offer AAA IB 37 looking for Classical Civilisation, Ancient History, Ancient Greek, Latin, or History amongst the subjects. General Studies and Critical Thinking not accepted.

What we are looking for Personal statement –  some understanding of the subject,  any experience of excavation, field work, museum work,  reading of current issues in Archaeology or current text books

Lectures, student presentations and debate – from lecturer-structured and -led to student-structured and -led – key skills for research, synthesis, evidence-based argument, and also for e.g. depositions at public enquiries etc. Facets of the student experience

Practicals – hands-on, teacher-led and supervised work with artefacts, environmental evidence, exercises in stratigraphy, and so on. Facets of the student experience

Field Trips – first hand experience of the location, form, scale, use and preservation of sites, monuments, landscapes, enables student to envisage their appearance in the past, and changes to their appearance and use through time.

Residential Field Trips – Week-long residential field classes in Europe for Level 2 Single and Joint Honours students: Rome, Burgundy, Malta

Fieldwork All our Single Hons students attend our fully-funded training excavation at Level 1 (3 weeks). All Joint Hons students have the option to attend the same training excavation at Level 1 (3 weeks). All our Single Hons students attend our fully-funded training excavation at Level 1 (3 weeks). All Joint Hons students have the option to attend the same training excavation at Level 1 (3 weeks). At Level 2, all our Single and Joint Hons students are offered fully-funded fieldwork accredited by the Department. At Level 2, all our Single and Joint Hons students are offered fully-funded fieldwork accredited by the Department. Two fully-funded residential field trips are provided at Levels 1 and 2. Two fully-funded residential field trips are provided at Levels 1 and 2.

Stanford (Ca USA)-Durham Binchester Research Project Fieldschool (County Durham, not far from Durham City) Vicus Cemetery Main Fort First Fort

Academic community in Durham: Museums and Activities Oriental Museum Oriental Museum Festival of British Archaeology Festival of British Archaeology Festival of Science Festival of Science Close liaison with Cathedral Close liaison with Cathedral

Academic community in Durham: Botanic Gardens experimentation On-going research experimentation in the University Botanic Garden On-going research experimentation in the University Botanic Garden

Academic community in Durham: the home of major international text books and journals

Employment Graduate prospects: This means that 72-78% of our graduates are either in “graduate level” (ie good quality) employment or further study six months after graduating. Career after 6 months: 72%

Employment  Specific archaeological opportunities: Commercial field units & consultancies; Museums & Heritage Management; Local Government; Academic sphere; National Heritage bodies (e.g. Inspectors of Ancient Monuments, field workers, Climate Change Managers for: English Heritage, Historic Scotland, CADW, Royal Commission, The National Trust, Churches Conservation Trust); The National Trust, Churches Conservation Trust); National Finds Advisors, Portable Antiquities Scheme

Employment  …and far beyond archaeology: The City; Management & Administration Enterprise and Entrepreneurship; Armed Forces; International charities; Conservation; Ecological and Environmental spheres (e.g. environmental impact assessments) Forensics (inc. International War Crime investigation); Publishing and journalism; Media research (yes, including Time Team); Law

Thank you.