MA (Hons) Archaeology and Ancient History in Edinburgh United Kingdom | The University of Edinburgh

This interdisciplinary program merges ancient history studies with archaeological theory and practice, focusing particularly on Greek and Roman civilizations within the Mediterranean region. Students develop essential historiographic and archaeological skills to interpret past societies, including literary source analysis, ancient architecture comprehension, forensic evidence evaluation, and language acquisition in both ancient and modern tongues. The extensive collection of surviving Greek and Roman texts offers remarkable perspectives into these ancient cultures, with documentary analysis serving as a cornerstone of the curriculum. Yet historical records often remain incomplete or skewed toward significant events and notable figures. Archaeology complements these texts by examining physical remnants to reconstruct everyday life in antiquity. This field utilizes artifacts and excavation sites to piece together the economic, social, and cultural frameworks of early civilizations. Edinburgh boasts a distinguished heritage in archaeological education and research, with expertise spanning European prehistory, Mediterranean cultures, and ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian societies. The curriculum covers both traditional and cutting-edge archaeological methods, incorporating scientific approaches, osteological studies, and digital technologies. Practical training forms a crucial component, with hands-on artifact examination using materials from our Vere Gordon Childe collection. Students undertake a three-week fieldwork placement after their first year, with opportunities for additional excavations, heritage management projects, public outreach initiatives, and laboratory-based artifact analysis in subsequent years.