Archaeology and Anthropology

Oxford’s distinctive combination of archaeology and anthropology, pursued over three years, offers an unusually broad perspective on human societies from earliest prehistory to the present.

By choosing to study here you will be able to:

• explore how humans evolved
• assess the relative importance of environmental, genetic and social factors in understanding patterns of human growth and nutrition
• learn why societies structure their families, economies and political systems in the ways that they do
• gain an insight into how ideas about what it means to be human and live together in human societies have changed over time investigate how material culture represents and reproduces beliefs and ideologies.

Archaeology and Anthropology students take part in an archaeological excavation and have the opportunity of participating in other archaeological or anthropological projects anywhere in the world. During their second and third years, students explore particular regions and methodological approaches in depth, choosing from a wide range of archaeological and anthropological topics. Third-year students complete a dissertation based on their own original research.

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The Course at St Peter's

Dr Timothy Clack and Dr Elizabeth Ewart lead teaching in archaeology and anthropology at the College.

Dr Timothy Clack researches conflict, heritage, and identities. He is engaged in various archaeological and anthropological fieldwork projects in Eastern Africa, Central Asia, and the South Atlantic.

Dr Ewart’s research focuses on indigenous peoples of lowland South America. She has conducted long term fieldwork among Amazonian hunter-gatherer-horticulturalists and is particularly interested in body arts, material culture and questions of personhood.