Archaeology

Archaeology is a broad-based discipline which harnesses material remains to interpret the rich diversity of past societies, from aspects of everyday life including diet and housing, to ideology and belief systems expressed in burial practices, ceremonial monuments and works of art. As a subject, Archaeology lends itself to a fun, challenging and immensely rewarding learning experience which encourages students to realise their full academic and personal potential. Students choose Archaeology at Reading because of our distinctive and innovative approach to teaching, underpinned by world-class research and facilities. Our formula combines the best traditional, period-based teaching in Archaeology (giving complementary insights to other humanities disciplines such as History and Classics) with a strong emphasis on fieldwork and the expanding battery of scientific applications which define the 21st-century discipline.

• An established reputation as one of the UK's top-rated archaeology departments. We were ranked second in the last national Research Assessment Exercise and currently hold the distinguished Queen's Anniversary Prize for the outstanding quality of our research, teaching and enterprise.

• Staff with wide-ranging specialist expertise, covering key periods from human origins to the Medieval World. Our approaches range from social archaeology, scientific applications and human remains to environmental and landscape reconstruction.

• A varied programme of fieldwork opportunities, both at home and abroad, including a dedicated fieldschool at the Roman town of Silchester.

• World-class teaching collections and laboratory facilities with dedicated spaces for the analysis of human remains, artefacts, plant pollen, and archaeological soils and sediments.

• A friendly and supportive environment in which to work and socialise, underpinned by our purpose-built premises, our student-centred fieldwork projects, an active student society, and a large body of postgraduates.

• Consistently high student-satisfaction ratings (91% and above) in the three most recent National Student Surveys.

Skills and experience

Students who choose to study Archaeology at undergraduate level stand to gain an impressive range of skills, including those in the transferrable category essential to employability - team-working, the ability to think analytically and critically, proficiency in IT applications, engaging public interest etc. At Reading we exploit this potential by exposing your to the full gamut of subjectrelated skills taught in a variety of lab, classroom and field environments, and by offering you a range of opportunities to gain real-life vocational experience, whether or not you wish to pursue a career in the archaeology/heritage sector. This includes work placements linked to our in-house environmental archaeology consultancy QUEST (Quaternary Scientific), and volunteering opportunities with the Ure Museum, the Museum of English Rural Life, and the Museum of Reading. Students wishing to develop a specialist interest in these areas can take advantage of our museums-related optional modules (see the Skills Development page for more details)

Silchester Field School

We also run a unique Archaeological Field School at Silchester Roman Town, Hampshire, one of the best preserved tribal capitals in Britain. Students spend 2-4 weeks at the Field School site with a guaranteed 4-week placement for those taking single honours BA/BSc programmes. Here you are taught archaeological field techniques and site recording methods whilst developing your communication, team-working and problemsolving skills in an enjoyable and sociable atmosphere. Training at Silchester prepares you for post-degree fieldwork careers and for fieldwork opportunities on our other research projects, both at home (e.g. the Hebrides, the Severn Estuary and Kent) and abroad (e.g. Egypt and Jordan). For details of our Silchester Field School, please contact the Field School Director, Amanda Clark (a.s.clarke@reading.ac.uk).
If you are interested in studying abroad as part of your degree, the Department of Archaeology participates in the ERASMUS scheme. This provides you with the opportunity to spend a term at the University of Lund in Sweden where you can study a different range of courses in a new academic and cultural environment.

Career prospects

Many of our students go on to develop successful careers in the archaeology/heritage sectors. Our recent graduates are represented amongst the staff of major employers such as Oxford Archaeology and Wessex Archaeology, the Museum of London Archaeological Service, English Heritage and the British Museum as well as local companies such as Thames Valley Archaeological Services.
The interdisciplinary nature of our degrees and their emphasis on transferrable skills also equip you well for postgraduate degree study in archaeology and a wide range of careers outside the archaeology/heritage sector. Our recent graduates have gained employment in career paths as diverse as communications, management (e.g. Sainsbury's and John Lewis plc), finance (e.g. Lloyds/TSB), marketing and tourism, the military, and public relations.