Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of the human past, in all its social and cultural diversity. At Cambridge, it is an outstandingly broad and exciting subject, equally rewarding for those who feel at home in the sciences, the humanities, or both.  

Archaeology covers a huge range of topics, spanning the evolution of humans, the development of farming, ancient civilisations and world empires, as well as the role of material culture (objects) in our lives and of heritage in our society. Students can follow several pathways – Archaeology (covering all world cultures), Biological Anthropology, Egyptology, and Assyriology. Students can also select a paper offered by other Faculties and Departments, such as in social anthropology, psychology, or sociology.

With the Department of Archaeology and the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge is one of the largest centres of archaeological research in Britain. Archaeology students at Cambridge benefit from direct hands-on access to world-class collections in Cambridge’s many museums, libraries and research centres.

The study of archaeology is very well established at Magdalene. The College has a strong tradition of fieldwork, and archaeological research here has largely concentrated on three themes: Landscape Archaeology, Palaeoeconomy (focusing on animal bones) and Mediterranean Archaeology (of all periods). The current Fellows and postgraduate students continue to develop these traditions.

Cyril Fox was one of the first to take a PhD (1922), which was subsequently published as his classic book: The Archaeology of the Cambridge Region. Eric Higgs was important in developing the Palaeoeconomic school of Cambridge both through fieldwork in Greece and the Early Agriculture Project of the British Academy. The late Sir John Boardman was the most distinguished graduate in Mediterranean Archaeology, specialising in the sculpture and pottery of the Classical Greeks, and was an Honorary Fellow of the College. Lawrence Barfield, Hugo Blake and Corinna Riva are three well known Mediterranean archaeologists, specialising in Prehistoric, Medieval and Protohistoric Italy respectively. Paul Halstead and Peter Rowley Conwy are two respected graduates in the tradition of Eric Higgs, and both have worked in the Mediterranean. Distinguished archaeologists in other fields include the emeritus professor of the archaeology of the Roman Empire from Oxford, the late Professor Shepherd Frere, Mr Max Hebditch, the emeritus Director of the Museum of London, and Richard Warner, the emeritus Keeper of Archaeology and Ethnography at the Ulster Museum (Northern Ireland).

A highlight of the Magdalene Archaeology and Anthropology Society each year has been its annual dinner, when we traditionally hear from a distinguished Magdalene archaeologist (usually a past student or Fellow in the subject), and celebrate the continuing and growing tradition of Magdalene archaeologists.

The core archaeologists at Magdalene are Professor Simon Stoddart and Professor Paul Lane, and more recently Dr Camilla Zeviani (see under 'Teaching Staff' below). There are also a number of others with interests in archaeology or closely related subjects, including Dr Nicholas James, Mrs Pat Marsh, and Dr John Patterson.

More details of the course and the optional papers available can be found on the University’s Undergraduate Study pages and the Department of Archaeology website.

The Archaeology Field Club is an established student society within the Department and students also publish their own academic journal, the Archaeological Review from Cambridge.

Archaeology spans a very broad subject area, and the course allows study of topics ranging across the humanities, the social sciences and the sciences. We welcome applications from students studying humanistic fields such as History, English, Classics, and ancient languages, social sciences such as Geography, Sociology, Psychology, or Anthropology, and sciences such as Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. 

Students with almost any combination of subjects can apply. Strong applications tend to have a combination of humanities, social science, and science subjects. Applicants especially interested in Egyptology and Assyriology are encouraged to study an ancient or modern language, although this is not essential.

Minimum Offer 

A-Level: A*AA

IB: 41-42 points overall, with 7,7,6 at Higher Level.

Other qualifications: Check which other qualifications we accept 

Candidates will normally have one interview of around 40-45 minutes.

The interview process aims to assess your intellectual ability, potential, and commitment to the subject.

We also usually ask for one sample of written work (such as a school essays) to be submitted with the application.

There is no admissions assessment for Archaeology.

More information is available on the Interviews, Written Work and Assessments page.