Welcome

Archaeology provides a vivid understanding of how the past informs our present through its focus on the material remains of the human past.

We are one of Australia’s longest-standing and leading Departments of Archaeology. Our newly restructured department offers a highly diverse programme of undergraduate teaching and postgraduate research opportunities spanning many areas of archaeological research and practice. The research funding success of staff projects and our global connections are reflected in the broad scope of our international fieldwork projects across Europe and Asia, as well as in Australasia. An active community of professionals and interested members of the public in Sydney, along with frequent visitors from overseas, contribute to a lively programme of activities.

Archaeology has been taught at the University of Sydney in various forms since the early 1930s. The Department of Archaeology is part of the School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry, within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

The teaching and research strengths of the Department lie in the archaeology of a number of regions: the classical world (Greece and Italy), the Near East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australasia. Departmental staff and associates also offer a range of research and teaching expertise in archaeological method and theory including key areas of archaeometry, digital technology, archaeozoology, lithics and ceramics analysis. Our department now also includes a Heritage Studies program with expertise in aspects of professional practice and public archaeology. A new undergraduate curriculum commencing in 2008 makes full use of the Department’s research and teaching strengths.

The resources of the Nicholson Museum and the Archaeology Materials Laboratory as well as the Archaeology Computing Laboratory are frequently used in teaching and research. The close proximity of such resources as the Near Eastern Archaeological Foundation and the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens, both housed on the main campus, enrich our teaching and research community.

Students often gain field experience in Sydney and/or participate in one or more of the University’s diverse archaeological field projects, or work with overseas institutions. Our graduates have had great success in recent years and today occupy positions in Australia, the USA, the UK, Europe and the Middle East.