About Us

Archaeology has been taught and studied at Durham University since 1931, which makes our staff and students part of a long tradition of learning.  

We count ourselves lucky to be based here, surrounded by incredible examples of medieval architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and so close to some of the country’s premier archaeological sites, such as Hadrian’s Wall and the Saxon monastery at Jarrow.  

Throughout the years, the department has grown to become what it is today: one of the largest departments in the world and a national leader for archaeological research.  

Although we spend so much of our time focused on the past, we are keenly aware of our future and as a community we share some common goals: 

• To continually improve upon and develop the student experience, in a respectful environment.  
• To build upon our global reputation as one of the best archaeological research departments. 

Our reputation as one of the best centres for archaeology in the country means that we can employ some of the top names in the field, such as Graham Philip, Rebecca Gowland and Chris Gerrard. It also means that we attract students of the highest calibre from a diverse range of backgrounds. 

We know that, for students, flexibility and choice are key components of a positive university experience. This is why we offer a varied range of single and joint honours undergraduate degrees and postgraduate programmes that can be tailored to your interests.