Archaeological Science

Archaeological science applies natural scientific methods to the study of human history and prehistory, using chemistry, physics, biology and geology to extract information from the material remains of the past that conventional archaeological description alone cannot provide. Radiocarbon dating, isotopic analysis, ancient DNA study, micromorphology and environmental reconstruction are among the techniques that archaeological scientists use to understand when people lived, what they ate, where they came from, how they worked materials and what the landscapes around them looked like. At the University of the Highlands and Islands, this part-time programme allows you to pursue this demanding interdisciplinary subject while managing other commitments, working through the material at a pace suited to the flexible study modes the university offers.

You will build an understanding of both the archaeological and the scientific dimensions of the field, learning not only how particular techniques work but how to interpret their results in the context of archaeological questions. The Highlands and Islands setting provides a distinctive context, with a rich and often well-preserved archaeological record spanning Neolithic monuments, Iron Age settlements, Norse material culture and post-medieval sites. You will develop skills in scientific reasoning, laboratory practice and the integration of scientific data with broader historical and anthropological understanding.

Graduates in archaeological science pursue careers in commercial archaeology, heritage management, museum and archive work, environmental consultancy, conservation science and academic research. The combination of scientific skills and humanistic enquiry is increasingly valued in a heritage sector that routinely uses scientific analysis to inform conservation decisions and public understanding. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study, either at master's level in archaeological science or in related natural science disciplines, particularly those with research interests in specific techniques or periods.