About this major

Archaeologists employ material evidence to study our human past. For students this is often an unfamiliar and exciting method of exploring bygone societies. The physical  evidence of the past is able to tell us much that written evidence cannot. Most people were never able to document their own histories, and much of our human past unfolded before writing came in to use. 

The archaeology major will provide you with an understanding of the past of humans in a variety of times and places to give you an insight into long-term trends in human life. This major will also equip you with the intellectual and practical skills to gather, analyse and interpret primary archaeological evidence in order to answer questions about prehistoric and historic societies.

The archaeology major contains broad coverage of the breadth of archaeological work, which allows you to undertake specialist training in one of three regional areas: Australia, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East/central Asia. Practical field and laboratory methods are taught, and there are opportunities to participate in fieldwork units locally and around the world, as well as in one of our intensive Summer Schools program in Athens or Rome.

Archaeology is a dynamic discipline that has revolutionised our understanding of the human past. Evidence is continuously unearthed and reveals unexpected and exciting glimpses of past societies. This major allows you to explore these vistas of human existence and to learn how archaeologists bring life to past societies.

A degree in Archaeology can lead to employment, especially in the expanding heritage consultancy business

For more information on the program structure and content including unit of study information, please refer to the Arts and Social Sciences Handbook.

This major is offered by the Archaeology discipline.