Study Details: MA 1 year full-time,
2 years part-time,
3 years part-time
What makes us ‘human’? How did early human societies work? How different were Neanderthals from ourselves and why did they die out? What was life like in the Ice Age? Debate these questions and many others within a lively research environment as you build up your knowledge and experience of early prehistoric societies from three million to 5,000 years ago.
The archaeology of human origins is a fascinating and dynamic area of research, with new evidence and theories constantly changing our interpretation of who we are.
On this course you’ll explore the archaeology and approaches to human origins while working alongside internationally renowned specialists in early prehistoric archaeology and human evolution. You’ll have the opportunity to work on pioneering studies with the potential for significant media exposure and gain ‘hands on’ experience of museum collections at the York Museum. You’ll be able to select modules to allow you to explore your own research interests and have the chance to visit Upper Palaeolithic rock art on a field trip to Creswell Crags.
This course is also available as an MSc Early Prehistory and Human Origins.
2:2 or equivalent in Archaeology, Anthropology or a relevant subject.
Mature students or those with less conventional qualifications but with relevant experience in this field will be considered. To find out if your professional experience or qualifications are appropriate, please contact the Course Director.
For fees and funding options, please visit website to find out more
This course is also available as an MSc Early Prehistory and Human Origins.
This course offers a broad range of essential skills and expertise, specialist knowledge and insight, which are relevant to a wide variety of careers or further study. Many of our students go on to pursue research at PhD level while others have taken up careers in heritage, conservation, the archaeology sector and academia.
Core modules
Becoming Human
Prehistoric Art: Origins and Transitions
Option modules
You will choose three option modules from examples including:
Debates in Funerary Archaeology
Digital Creativity
Mesolithic Life and Death
Virtual Reality and 3D Modelling
You'll also have the opportunity to choose options from our full module catalogue. Some option modules combinations may not be possible. The option available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Ancient Biomolecules
Animal bones for Archaeologists
Archaeologies of Colonialism in the British Atlantic World
Artefacts and Materials Analysis
Building Conservation Projects
Buildings Recording
Contemporary Issues in Museums
Critical Approaches to Archaeological Practice
Data Science for Archaeology
Death, Burial and Commemoration in the Roman World
Digital Approaches to Archaeology
Experimental Archaeology
GIS and spatial analysis
Heritage Principles and Concepts
Histories of Conservation
Landscape survey and geophysics
Life and Death in Iron Age Britain and Ireland
Medieval Settlement and Communities
Making the Nation
Museums, Audiences & Interpretation
Presenting Historic Houses
Project Management
Researching & Analysing Historic Buildings
Roman Europe
Roman Archaeology: Ancient pasts, current issues
Skeletal Evidence for Health in the Past
Sustainability I: definitions of sustainability & methods of assessment
Sustainability II: understanding sustainability as change through time
Sustainable Buildings
Sustainable Conservation Challenges
The Ancient Celts: Archaeology and Identity in Iron Age Europe
The Archaeology of Roman Religion
The Archaeology of the Human Skeleton
The Viking Age: People, Places, Things
Thinking through Material Culture
Understanding & Interpreting Historic Buildings
Zooarchaeology in Context
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
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