Archaeology and Ancient History

Archaeology and ancient history together provide one of the richest approaches to the study of the ancient world, combining the material evidence of archaeology with the textual and documentary evidence of historical study. Archaeology recovers and interprets the physical traces of past human life, from monumental structures and everyday objects to environmental evidence and human remains. Ancient history examines the written record of the classical and ancient worlds, including the civilisations of Greece, Rome, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and beyond.

Together the two disciplines give you access to a far richer picture of ancient life than either could offer alone.

At the University of Southampton, this three-year full-time programme develops specialist knowledge across your chosen areas and places you within an active research community in both disciplines. You will learn to work with primary sources, both material and textual, to evaluate competing interpretations, and to construct well-evidenced arguments about the ancient world. Southampton has strong archaeological collections and active field research programmes, and the programme connects your academic study to the research taking place at the institution.

You will develop skills in archival research, object analysis, fieldwork methods, and critical writing that prepare you both for further study and for careers where these capacities are valued.

The disciplines of archaeology and ancient history train you to think carefully about evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, to work with fragmentary and imperfect sources, and to place specific findings within broader interpretive frameworks. These are broadly applicable intellectual capacities.

Graduates from archaeology and ancient history programmes pursue careers in heritage management, archaeological fieldwork and contracting, museums and collections management, academic research, education, cultural tourism, and the arts and cultural sectors. Postgraduate study in archaeology, ancient history, classical studies, or museum studies is a well-established route for those seeking specialist professional or research roles.