Archaeology of Ancient Civilisations

Archaeology of Ancient Civilisations takes as its subject the material and cultural remains of the great early societies that shaped the foundations of much of the world's history: Egypt, Greece, Rome and the ancient Near East. These civilisations produced literature, art, architecture, law, philosophy and political institutions whose influence is still felt in the world today, and studying them archaeologically gives us access not only to the ideas of their elites but to the lives of their poets, priests, administrators, soldiers and ordinary people. It is a discipline that asks what it means to be human, and uses the material evidence of the ancient past to explore that question with rigour and imagination.

At the University of Liverpool this three-year full-time degree provides a broad introduction in your first year to archaeological methods and to the archaeology and history of Egypt, Greece, Rome and the ancient Near East. In your second and third years you explore subjects central to understanding ancient civilisations, social and political organisation, art, religion and texts in greater depth. The degree includes a year abroad option, giving you the opportunity to study ancient material and culture in an international context and engage with different scholarly traditions.

Liverpool's strong research in ancient civilisations informs a teaching environment of genuine intellectual vitality.

Graduates from Archaeology of Ancient Civilisations degrees go on to careers in heritage management, museum and gallery work, classical and ancient history education, archaeological field units, publishing and cultural organisations. Others find roles in archiving, cultural resource management, academic research and the wider public sector. The analytical skills, close attention to evidence and ability to interpret complex cultural material that the degree develops are valued across a range of professional contexts.

Postgraduate study in classical archaeology, ancient history, museum studies or heritage management is a common route for those wishing to develop specialist expertise.