Archaeology
Why Study Archaeology?
Archaeology is the study of past human societies through the material remains they have left behind. It is an exciting subject that investigates important developments in the human story over a long period of time. The greater part of the human story is beyond the range of traditional historical methods and can only be studied through the archaeological record. Today, archaeologists regularly collaborate with scientists working in such disciplines as botany and physics in, for example, the analysis of environmental remains and the dating of ancient objects. The excitement of discovery in Archaeological excavation is well known through the media, however this is only one aspect of a discipline that combines an interest in the humanities with scientific method.
Subject Overview
The First Arts programme provides a general introduction to the discipline of Archaeology for students who have no particular background in this subject. The course also provides a general introduction to the Archaeology of Ireland, spanning some ten millennia from the earliest human settlement of the island to the early modern era.
The Second and Third Year programmes provide foundation and advanced training in Irish and European Archaeology, as well as a range of skills-orientated courses that are necessary for career development. Overall, the BA degree in Archaeology seeks to balance archeological theory and culture history courses with those dealing with fieldwork and scientific approaches in the past.
Study Placement
As well as lectures and seminars, there is a strong fieldwork element in the Archaeology programme. Many of the course modules have field excursions where students will be introduced to the rich archaeological heritage of Ireland. Students will also have an opportunity to participate in training excavations and to receive field survey training. There are also opportunities to work on archaeological projects during the summer with commercial companies and other bodies.
Postgraduate & Career Opportunities
The Department of Archaeology offers a one-year taught Masters degrees on Human Osteoarcheology. We also have M.Phil and PhD degree programmes for students interested in undertaking research in Archaeology.
As well as being an exciting and interesting subject, Archeology can lead to a professional career qualification, with numerous employment opportunities in Ireland and abroad. Archaeologists work in the state heritage sector, for government bodies such as the National Monuments Service and the National Museum of Ireland, as well as for local authorities in county museums and plannin offices. There is a growing commercial Archaeology sector in Ireland, servicing the requirements of state agencies such as the National Roads Authority as well as developers in the private sector. Archaeologists work in survey and excavation, in environmental impact assessment, in heritage conservation projects and in tourism.
What will you be studying?
Year 1
The Archaeology of Ireland • Introduction to Archaeology •The work of the Archaeologist
Year 2
Students select topics from the following:
The Development of Archaeological Thought • The Archaeology of the Viking Age: Scandinavia and the North Atlantic • Foragers to Farmers: The Early Prehistory of Europe • Chalcolithic and Bronze Age Europe • The Archaeology of Early Medieval Ireland • The Archaeology of Later- and Post-Medieval Ireland
• Artifact Studies • Archaeological Field Survey • Introduction to Environmental Archaeology • Human Remains for Archaeologists • Archaeological Geophysics and Underwater Archaeology.
Year 3
Research Dissertation • Prehistoric Society in Ireland • Early Agriculture in Ireland • Urban Archaeology • Celticism • The Palaeolithic of Eurasia • Neolithic Origins in the Near East, Anatolia and Eurasia • Viking Age Archaeology in Ireland and Britain • Technology and Society in Medieval Europe • The Archaeology of the early Irish Church • Health, Diet and Disease in early Societies • Archaeological Excavation • Archaeological Ceramics • Urban Archaeology
See the Book of Modules for detailed description on module content in Archaeology
