Osteoarchaeology University of Aberdeen

Overview

At a Glance

The University of Aberdeen’s Marischal Museum holds thousands of human skeletons from research and rescue excavations. Located in the iconic Marischal College building, in the heart of the city of Aberdeen, this collection includes extensive archaeological human skeletal collections, from Neolithic to Medieval and post-Medieval remains. In particular the collection has a rich assemblage of material from the major medieval towns of Aberdeen, Perth, and St Andrews, as well as prehistoric material from Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. There is also some international material from Egypt, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.

These collections provide unparalleled research and teaching opportunities for students at the University of Aberdeen. As part of the programme, students will actively work on these collections and where possible publish the results as part of student/staff projects.

The Osteoarchaeology programme of the University of Aberdeen, in the developing field of Osteoarchaeology and Palaeopathology (the study of human remains) will provide the knowledge and practical skills to unlock the rich stories of the human past, equipping students with the knowledge to understand some of the major trends in the development of human lifeways and societies.

Careers

An Archaeology degree can be the gateway to many other professions, and the training in analytical and communication skills acquired by our graduates make them employable in a wide variety of fields including industry, commerce and research.

The broad-based nature of the discipline enables graduates to compete strongly in the employment market place. Today Archaeologists in the UK work in an increasingly wide range of professions. A significant percentage of graduates are employed in private or university-based archaeological units and consultancies. These professionals are responsible for mitigating the impact to archaeological sites in relation to different forms of development. Typically, such posts involve a good deal of fieldwork and the production of high quality scientific reports.

Others graduates go on to research, teaching and curatorial posts in universities, museums and private institutions and work in a range of areas from interpreting ancient environments to communicating archaeology to the public. In addition to more traditional occupations, a growing number of Archaeologists are now employed by a range of governmental and non-governmental heritage organizations.

Careers in this area are primarily involved in making decisions about the management and conservation of archaeological resources at local, national and international levels. Archaeologists and individuals with archaeological training also work in a growing number of non-traditional careers where archaeological knowledge is central. These positions range widely, from jobs with engineering firms, where knowledge of archaeological principals can be crucial to project planning, to careers which engage the public's appreciation of the past.