Archaeological Science Leiden University

Overview

Archaeological Science delves into the specifics of archaeological methods and techniques. The combination of hands-on field experience and laboratory work offers a challenging and rewarding research
Scientific methodology is an important approach in modern archaeology and it is at the heart of archaeological science. Hypotheses, data, theory, experiments, observations, as well as presentation and interpretation, are all key to our understanding of our past.

The programme gives you the freedom to choose your own focus based on your own interests. You may study archaeobotany and archaeozoology, or prefer to dive into human osteoarchaeology. You may rather explore material culture, or further develop your skills in digital archaeology. All of these choices can be combined with lectures on specific regions or time periods.

For your thesis you will receive supervision by one of more of our staff members. By enrolling in Archaeological Science you will be guaranteed a supervisor within this specialisation. Please note, however, that it may not be possible to work with the supervisor and on the topic of your choice.

What you will learn

Graduates will be able, taking a given research question as their starting point, to collect the relevant archaeological source material and to interpret that material in the framework of the research question, if necessary in association with different source material. They will be able to analyse and determine archaeological materials in a wide range of categories: human and animal remains, botanic samples, and artefacts of various materials.

Career prospects

The last few years have witnessed a favourable development in the Dutch archaeological job market. Funds for carrying out rescue excavations have become available in large building budgets. Employment can therefore chiefly be found in Dutch archaeology on a contract or project basis, either with commercial companies or with (semi-) government institutions. The additional disciplines of the archaeology programme in Leiden also provide a sound basis for finding employment both in the Netherlands as abroad.

Examples of jobs

• Material analyst
• Laboratory Staff Member
• Researcher
• PhD candidate

Accreditation

Accredited by NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.