DU Archaeology Department

Welcome to Durham University's Department of Archaeology! One of the largest Archaeology departments and ranked 6th in the QS World University Rankings 2025!

Take the National Student Survey 2026!
Take the National Student Survey 2026!
MSc Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology
MSc Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology
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Look closer at our Department of Archaeology
Department of Archaeology YouTube Channel

Events

Global Gateway Series - Durham University
Durham hosts exhibition marking 100 years of China’s Palace Museum
Durham hosts exhibition marking 100 years of China’s Palace Museum

The Melsonby Hoard

Melsonby Hoard wins Current Archaeology’s Rescue Project of The Year!
Melsonby Hoard wins Current Archaeology’s Rescue Project of The Year!
Melsonby Hoard to go on public display
Melsonby Hoard to go on public display
Archaeologists unearth one of the UK’s largest Iron Age hoards - Durham University
Archaeologists unearth one of the UK’s largest Iron Age hoards - Durham University

Our News

Spotlight on: Professor Chris Gerrard
Spotlight on: Professor Chris Gerrard
Professor Anna Leone - Bridging ancient history and heritage preservation across North Africa
Professor Anna Leone - Bridging ancient history and heritage preservation across North Africa
Public get first-hand view of palace’s archaeology
Public get first-hand view of palace’s archaeology
Roman industrial hub discovered on banks of River Wear
Roman industrial hub discovered on banks of River Wear
Professionally accredited Archaeology degrees at Durham University successfully renewed
Professionally accredited Archaeology degrees at Durham University successfully renewed
Browse all of our Archaeology news stories

Learn More About Our Courses

Postgraduate Taught Courses - Archaeology

Our Students

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Faye McLean - student experience excavating the Melsonby Hoard
Faye McLean - student experience excavating the Melsonby Hoard
Student experience: Simon Alderson (MA International Cultural Heritage Management)
Student experience: Simon Alderson (MA International Cultural Heritage Management)
Lauren Gill (MSc Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology)
Lauren Gill (MSc Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology)
Phia Taylor - Excavating at The Hill of the Goats, Northumberland
Phia Taylor - Excavating at The Hill of the Goats, Northumberland
Archie Robson - Cañaveral de León 2023
Archie Robson - Cañaveral de León 2023
Faye McLean - Archaeology with Placement Year at Bibracte
Faye McLean - Archaeology with Placement Year at Bibracte
Kelly Papastergiou - My archaeology fieldwork in Lebanon
Kelly Papastergiou - My archaeology fieldwork in Lebanon
Val Vdovina - My archaeology fieldwork experience in Guinea-Bissau
Val Vdovina - My archaeology fieldwork experience in Guinea-Bissau

Hear From Our Alumni

Alumni Spotlight - Max Storey
Alumni Spotlight - Edith Chong
Alumni Spotlight - Sam Betley
Alumni Spotlight - Matthew Bamborough
Alumni Spotlight - Danielle Silverman

Find Out More

Dawson Centenary
India Delegation
Tilaurakot World Heritage Nomination
MA Archaeology - Hodgson Binns Bursaries
Global Goals: Student SDG Summit
Postgraduate Open Days - Durham University
Postgraduate Study - Durham University Archaeology
Belief in the North East: Billingham
Belief in the North East: Billingham
Athena SWAN Silver Award
Professor Anna Leone awarded a British Council CPF Grant to protect heritage
The Delta Survey project: Egypt
Glaciers in the Anthropocene. A Biocultural View
Black history month
Scotland's First Farmers
A Global History of the Earlier Palaeolithic
Heritage protection in a humanitarian crisis - Durham University
Uncovering Holy Island's Secrets
Paul Pettitt discusses the discovery of Lascaux Cave on Times Radio
CODEX: Inspired by Lindisfarne Gospels 2022 - Durham University
Durham visual Palaeopsychology: cross-disciplinary research into the origins of art
Novel Medieval climate change project wins prestigious €2m Grant
The Durham Centre for Cultural Heritage Protection Statement on Ukraine
MSC Human Bioarchaeology and Palaeopathology
Phytoliths for Exploring Holy Island’s Vegetational History – BSBI Annual Exhibition Meeting
Paul Pettitt - Ancient child's bones article
COP26 Research Event
Major moments from modern history reimagined as 'ancient' cave art
SEGA reimagines modern history moments including Covid and Brexit as cave art
Lecturer in Applied Landscape Archaeology
Tour the Auckland Castle excavation sites
Excavations help tell the medieval history of one of Newcastle city centre's busiest streets
Postcards from the Past: Preston Hall Museum - Natalie Wilkinson
Postcard from the Past: Raby Castle - Janine Watson
Offshore wind farms bring history books to life
Palaeolithic Archaeology in our Collections
Postcard from the Past: Roman Binchester, John Castling
Everywhere is local: Sais - Egyptian village and a royal city - Dr Penny Wilson (Durham University)
Andalusian Influences
Postcard from the Past: Vindolanda - Prof Richard Hingley
'Post Cards from the Past' from Dr Emma Watson at the Devil's Arrows, Boroughbridge
DECOLONIZING ARCHAEOLOGY IN BERMUDA: Tucker’s Town Free Black Cemetery Webinar
UNESCO-Durham-Government of Nepal
Cave paintings may depict Ice Age sign language
Rock art - Barbara Oosterwijk
Death metal: Evidence for the impact of lead poisoning on childhood health within the Roman Empire
Rewriting World Archaeology
Global Dialogues Project - DU
Hidden Histories with Helen Carter ft. David Petts
Msc Human Bioarchaeology and Paleopathology Dissertation - Science Direct
Kiplin Hall - The Northern Echo
Kiplin Hall
African Burial - El Pais
African Burial - Science Magazine
African Burial - New Scientist
African Burial - National Geographic

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