What is a top tip for studying archaeology at university? James (18)

Hi James,

I would think about whether you are generally interested in archaeology or whether you have a particular area of interest (Prehistory, Roman etc). Different university departments have different areas of expertise, although you should get a taste of everything wherever you go. There are lots of courses for specific time periods, as well as for different types (Underwater Archaeology, for example). Having said that, many people start with a general archaeology degree and then specialise later with a Masters degree.

It would also be sensible to bear in mind that you can do an Arts degree (BA) or a Science degree (BSc) in Archaeology so checking out the course details and chosing one that reflects your interests and ability is important. Also, you can do Archaeology with other subjects (like History), and these degrees might be of interest to you.

But my top tip when you’re at university is to make sure you put the work in, but also get out and meet people. If you’re interested in fieldwork, or museums work, as a later career then make sure you check out what projects are available for you to work on while you’re a student. These will help you gain experience, which is important to an employer.

Good luck!

From Ian the Archaeologist

Answered by:

Ian Milsted

Ian works for York Archaeological Trust, managing excavations and surveys. He comes from Orkney and he once dug on a site packed with headless Romans!

I live near Pontefract in Yorkshire. Recently near where I live some builders making houses found a grave with Roman soldiers in. My grandad was talking to one of the builders and he said they still had their armour on. Did this happen often? Charlotte Wilson (9)

This does sound unusual as armour was normally re-used or recycled, although there are a few examples of this practice in Roman Britain. It sounds like a remarkable […]

What do you do when you find artefacts?! Do you put them in a museum, sell them in an auction, or just keep the items? Rukiye Shahla Babaoglu (9)

Hi Rukiye, The artefacts we find are carefully cleaned and catalogued, before being sent to specialists to study. These specialists can include people who are experts in particular […]

My 10yr old daughter wants to be an archaeologist and is mad keen on history. Can you recommend any books for someone her age? Oliver Marshall

There are loads of good books about archaeology for young people. A good general starting point is The Usborne Introduction to Archaeology by Abigail Wheatley It has loads […]