The Department of Archaeology at the University of York, England, is a department which provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in archaeology and its sub-disciplines and conducts associated research. It was founded in 1978 and has grown from a small department based at Micklegate House to more than a hundred undergraduate students based at King's Manor and with scientific facilities at the BioArCh centre on the main campus.
 The main courtyard at King's Manor | |
| Type | Academic department |
|---|---|
| Established | 1978 |
| Affiliation | University of York |
| Head of Department | Nicky Milner |
Academic staff | 28 |
| Undergraduates | 300 |
| Postgraduates | 100 |
| Location | , , England 53°57′45″N 1°05′11″W / 53.9624°N 1.0865°W |
| Website | www |
Hosted organisations, research specialities and fieldwork
edit
The archaeology department hosts several specialist organisations:
- Archaeology Data Service - an open access digital archive for archaeological research outputs
- Internet Archaeology - a fully peer-reviewed electronic journal for archaeology
- BioArCh - a specialist centre using scientific and molecular techniques for archaeology
- York Experimental Archaeology Research (YEAR) Centre
- Centre for Digital Heritage - an interdisciplinary centre studying computer-based approaches to heritage. Working with the universities of Aarhus (Denmark), Leiden (Netherlands), Lund (Sweden), Uppsala (Sweden).
- The Post Hole - is an archaeology journal run by students.[1]
The department's faculty has led significant archaeological investigations across Great Britain and occasionally further afield
| Site | Image | Location | Period(s) | Director(s) | Years excavated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Carr |  |
North Yorkshire | Mesolithic | Chantal Conneller (Manchester) Nicky Milner, Barry Taylor (Chester) | 2003-2015[2] |
| Castell Henllys |  |
Pembrokeshire | Iron Age | Harold Mytum | |
| Sutton Hoo |  |
Suffolk | Anglo-Saxon | Martin Carver | 1983-1992 |
| Wharram Percy |  |
East Yorkshire | Medieval | Philip Rahtz (among others) | 1950-1990 |
History
edit
The department opened in 1978, 15 years after the university itself. The first head of department, Philip Rahtz built a thematic undergraduate programme specialising in the British Middle Ages. The programme included a 12-week field course in archaeological excavation.[3] The department expanded under Martin Carver after his appointment in 1986. A postgraduate programme was added and the department moved to King's Manor. Subsequently, the department has grown in numbers of students, staff and the diversity of its specialisms: adding environmental archaeology, prehistory, computational archaeology, archaeological science and cultural heritage management.[3]
Academics
editHead of Department:
Deputy Heads of Department:
- Oliver Craig
- Stephanie Wynne-Jones
Other academics:
- Michelle Alexander
- Ian Armit
- Steve Ashby
- Penny Bickle
- Gill Chitty
- Samuel Cobb
- Lu Cooke
- Phil Cox
- Oliver Craig
- Gareth Dean
- Jonathan Finch
- Laura Fitton
- Kate Giles
- Dawn Hadley
- Jessica Hendy
- Don Henson
- Malin Holst
- Matt Jenkins
- Jim Leary
- Aimée Little
- Aleksandra McClain
- Nicky Milner
- Colleen Morgan
- Paul O'Higgins
- David Orton
- Stephanie Piper
- Paola Ponce
- Julian D. Richards
- Steve Roskams
- John Schofield
- Dav Smith
- Penny Spikins
- Daryl Stump
- Alice Toso
- Nathan Wales
- Kevin Walsh
Honorary and visiting staff:
- Joann Fletcher
- Terry O'Connor
- Dominic Powlesland
Former academics
editHeads of department:
- Philip Rahtz - 1978-1986[3]
- Martin Carver - 1986-1996[3]
- Jane Grenville - 2001-2006[4]
- Julian D. Richards - 2006-2012
- John Schofield - 2011-2018
- Sara Perry - left 2019
Alumni
edit- Ken Dark, archaeologist : BA Archaeology, 1982[5]
- Helen Geake, archaeologist : DPhil Archaeology, 1991[6]
- Roberta Gilchrist, archaeologist : DPhil Archaeology, 1989[7]
- Greg Jenner - Historical Consultant to CBBC's 'Horrible Histories'[8]
- Leen Ritmeyer, archaeologist : MA Conservation Studies[9]
- Ben Robinson, The Flying Archaeologist (BBC Series) : PhD Archaeology [10]
Rankings and awards
editAmongst archaeology departments, York ranked 2nd for Impact, 2nd equal for Environment, and 4th overall in the 2014 Research Assessment Exercise.[11] In the 2015 University Subject Tables, the department was ranked 6th out of 40 with a score of 92.6%.[12] The Department was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2011[13]
References
edit- ^ "The Post Hole". Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ^ "Recent Excavations". Star Carr website. Star Carr archaeology project. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "History of the Department". Department of Archaeology Website. University of York. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ "York & Antiquity". Martin Carver retirement website. Heritage Technology. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ Ashgate (2004). Landscapes of change: rural ... – Google Books. ISBN 9781840146172. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
- ^ "channel4.com – Time Team – Meet the Team – Helen Geake". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
- ^ "Professor Roberta Gilchrist – University of Reading". www.reading.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
- ^ "IMDB Greg Jenner". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "About " Ritmeyer Archaeological Design". www.ritmeyer.com. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
- ^ "Past postgraduate theses". www.york.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ "REF 2014". HEFCE. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ "University Subject Tables - Archaeology". Subject Tables. The Complete University Guide. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ "Previous Prize-winners". Queen's Anniversary Trust website. The Royal Anniversary Trust. Retrieved 15 November 2014.