Archaeology
www.rdg.ac.uk/archaeology
Quality Ratings and Research Traditions
The Department of Archaeology is acknowledged as being at the forefront of archaeological research nationally and internationally. The Department was awarded the highest possible mark, grade 5*, in the latest Research Assessment Exercise, with Oxford and Cambridge. It was also graded as 'Excellent' in the latest Quality Assurance Agency Review of Masters and Undergraduate Teaching, with a score of 23 out of 24.
The Department's research extends from human origins to the Middle Ages and focuses on regions of the Old World as far apart as Jordan, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Norway, and Russia. We are particularly concerned to integrate theoretical issues, such as human cognition, gender, ancient art and the emergence of social complexity, with rigorous practical approaches that include archaeological science, excavation, field survey and the recording of standing buildings. The Department forms part of the School of Human and Environmental Sciences. The Department’s Research income includes grants from Research Councils as well as public bodies such as English Heritage, Historic Scotlandand Cadw and the Leverhulme Trust.
Distinctive Features
Reading Archaeology Department has established a truly interdisciplinary research environment, interacting equally with the humanities and sciences. Archaeology is also integrated into Research Groups that meet regularly within the School of Human and Environmental Sciences. The Department has a lively postgraduate student body with over 30 full-time and part-time PhD students and over 30 Masters students.
Facilities and Study Environment
The Department occupies a brand-new building which was expressly designed to meet its needs in teaching and research. This opened in 2002 and is equipped with laboratory facilities and seminar and study rooms. The Department also has access to excellent analytical and computing facilities within the School of Human and Environmental Sciences.
Funding Opportunities
Four NERC funded studentships are available for the MSc Geoarchaeology. For details, contact Professor Martin Bell (m.g.bell@rdg.ac.uk). MA candidates may apply for AHRC Studentships.
PhD research students have been successful in obtaining research funding from Faculty and University studentships, in addition to studentships from NERC and the AHRC. For details contact Dr Heinrich Härke (h.g.h.harke@rdg.ac.uk).
Research Degrees
Supervision for MPhil or PhD research degrees is available in all the main areas of research within the Department. The University has a formal code of practice for research students, which ensures adequate supervision and appropriate training are provided.
The Department has a policy of ensuring regular meetings with the supervisor and termly meetings with an Advisory Panel of three staff, and requires submission of a satisfactory end-of-year report for students to progress.
All research students attend a Research Methods Programme, which provides training in research resources, computing, statistics, thesis writing and critical analysis, funding applications, and maintaining a skills record. There is an annual Research Students Conference, and Reading PhD students regularly present papers at conferences and achieve publication in national and international journals. In the last five years, Reading doctoral students have been successful in obtaining appointments with heritage agencies and universities, including Belfast, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Cork, Exeter, Glasgow, Leicester, Newcastle and London. If you would like further information on a particular area of research, please contact the member of staff whose research interests appear most relevant.
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Courses/Programmes
Printable version of this page and all Archaeology courses
Research Degrees
Taught Programmes
Postgraduate Enquiries
Research degrees:
contact Dr Heinrich Härke
e-mail h.g.h.harke@rdg.ac.uk
Taught programmes:
MA Archaeology
contactDr Wendy Matthews
e-mail w.matthews@rdg.ac.uk
MSc Geoarchaeology
contact Professor Martin Bell
e-mail m.g.bell@rdg.ac.uk
MA Medieval Archaeology
contact Professor Grenville Astill
e-mail g.g.astill@rdg.ac.uk
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staff
Fees and Funding Support