Our facilities

The Department of Archaeology is housed in a dedicated building, complete with PC lab, reading rooms, and specialist equipment. This state-of-the-art building is an ideal hub for our archaeology community.

You'll have access to our extensive facilities throughout your studies and research.

Purpose-built teaching laboratories

You'll learn within specialist laboratories and have access to our superb teaching collections of artefacts, ecofacts, human remains and animal bones.

Six dedicated suites of laboratories sit within the Archaeology Building. Together with the University’s central Chemical Analysis Facility, these laboratories underpin the Department’s world-renowned research.

The six science suites cover:

material science
bioarchaeology
geophysical and geospatial research
geomorphology and micromorphology
palaeoecology
geochemistry.

These superb facilities enable you to explore the hands-on, practical side of archaeology.

Learn more about our extensive facilities

Using our campus for fieldwork

The University is also home to a unique range of environments. We treat our campus as a “living laboratory”; both staff and students make the most of their immediate surroundings for fieldwork.

For example, in the Changing the Face of the Earth: Past, Present and Future Sustainability undergraduate module, you would make use of the following locations:

Sonning Farm

You will take a field trip to the 180-hectare Sonning Farm for an assignment on environmental impact.

Cole Museum of Zoology

You'll visit the Cole Museum of Zoology on Whiteknights campus, which is home to thousands of specimens, to look at biodiversity, evolution and extinctions.

"The Department has many labs. One in particular I've spent a lot of time in is the bones lab. I've also made use of the designated study space for undergraduates in the Archaeology Building, known as the Reading Room. The space is a brilliant environment to work in, discuss the subject material, share ideas and get to know students across all the year groups."

Marcie Weeks, BA Archaeology and History

Read Marcie's story

On-campus museums

With three unique on-campus museums – the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, the Cole Museum of Zoology, and the Museum of English Rural Life – you can learn from our experts within an accredited museum service.

Our Museum Studies modules provide the opportunity to experience real-world activities such as collections-based research, contributing to public events, working on social media campaigns, and assisting with school sessions.