Archaeology
At the Faculty of Archaeology, we investigate the development of human societies worldwide, from the earliest beginnings to modern times. We also study the heritage of mankind, which evokes this deep history, and which connects with, and informs, contemporary society.
Archaeologists have access to a variety of methods, which both elucidate the past and make it relevant to the present. It is an interdisciplinary field, applying approaches and theories from Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences, giving rise to new insights. Read more about our research
Together with research, a main focus of the Faculty is to educate and train young archaeologists. Research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Every lecturer is an experienced researcher, and every researcher is an accomplished teacher. Read more about our teaching.
The Faculty is comprised of three departments:
Read more about our organisation.
News
Leiden Archaeology Blog
In the Media
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400,000-Year-Old Mystery Unearthed Near Rome -
Homo erectus discovery in Indonesia features in news stories world wide -
125,000-year-old Neanderthal ‘fat factory’ discovered in Germany -
How lasers and volunteers are uncovering thousands of archaeological sites -
Archaeological Project Sheds Light on Ancient Water Management in Udhruh -
Highlighting Dutch-Jordanian archaeological cooperation in Udhruh -
Possibly the oldest known piece of figurative art found in Indonesia -
Short documentary on 50 years archaeology in Oss -
A fire-starting masterclass by Dr. Andrew Sorensen on Archeology Quest -
Udhruh archaeological project on TV in Jordan
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Archaeologist interviewed about the carnivore diet -
Leiden archaeologists mentioned in Top 13 Discoveries in Human Evolution during 2023 -
Vote now! Doggerland book nominated for Current Archaeology Book prize 2024 -
Oddly-shaped medieval vessels found all over the Islamic world have puzzled archaeologists for decades. -
Excavation of Roman villa on Mallorca covered by Catalan and Spanish news outlets -
Ancient fire expert Femke Reidsma on Tea-Break Time Travel Podcast -
Secrets of the skull -
Exploring Jordan's archaeology from a bird's eye view -
High media coverage of innovative research presenting a new method for recovering ancient human DNA -
Leiden research on Neanderthals featured in the Wall Street Journal article -
Archaeologist and numismatist Jonathan Ouellet interviewed on a podcast -
Life in a port city: Roderick Geerts writes a blog post about the ancient port of Berenike -
Students once again explore archaeology Oss -
Gerrit Dusseldorp: A visiting researcher at KwaZulu-Natal Museum -
Archaeologist Marie Soressi joins the discussion about the early use of bow-and-arrow technology in Europe -
Osteoarchaeologist Maia Casna interviewed on a podcast
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Martijn Manders and the media fascination with “Klein Hollandia“ -
Evidence that Neanderthals hunted giant elephants takes news outlets by storm -
Professor Bleda Düring interviewed for podcast Tides of History -
Archaeologist Anastasia Nikulina interviewed for podcast Hortus Amsterdam -
Blogging about the Research and Management of the Tollense Battlefield -
Archaeologist Amanda Henry in podcast on dental care in the past -
Archaeological explorations in Jordan unveil traces of ancient caravan routes -
Archaeologist Annelou van Gijn lectures at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland -
Alex Brandsen and Bjørn Peare Bartholdy interviewed on Digital Scholarship Blog -
Cut the tyranny of copy-and-paste with these coding tools -
How did we discover fire?
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Neanderthals changed ecosystems 125,000 years ago -
Archaeologist Gerrit Dusseldorp in Discover Magazine on Neanderthal extinction
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Faculty excavation featured on Cypriot news channel -
Colourful prehistoric ‘Chanel dress’ goes on show -
Research by Leiden archaeologists in The Jordan Times -
A 51,000-year-old carved bone is one of the world's oldest works of art, researchers say -
Dr. Kuijpers in Science Magazine: 'This is a blow to the idea that elites were running the show' -
Dr. Henry in Nature: How Ancient People Fell in Love with Carbs -
Skeletal Evidence for Malaria in the Medieval Netherlands -
Podcast Finally Friday with ancient-fire expert Femke Reidsma -
Karsten Lambers in Vice: 'Whoever built those geoglyphs was unaware of their relative size on a global scale' -
Dr. Andrew Sorensen at University of the Netherlands: Lecture on Ancient Fire-Use -
In the media: Prof. Dr. Joanita Vroom about the Van Steenis depot -
Podcast 'Talk That Science' with Maikel Kuijpers as guest -
Archaeologist Andy Sorensen in National Geographic Magazine about ancient fire use -
Leiden archaeologists in international media on early form of money in the Bronze Age -
Archaeologist Maikel Kuijpers reflects on academic feud over Nebra sky disc -
Dental remains shed light on drug use in 19th century Dutch village -
Archaeology student Jan Dekker interviewed by NewScientist and Smithsonian Magazine on arrowheads of human bone -
Archaeologist Bleda Düring in conversation about new publication on Archaeologies of Empire -
Maikel Kuijpers takes an archaeological perspective on the materials that shape our world -
Richard Jansen writes about Oss in Archeologie Magazine -
Amanda Henry in Sapiens.org about microfossils in a Finnish skeletal collection -
How Stone Age Humans Unlocked the Glucose in Plants -
Raymond Corbey interviewed about new book on the missionary's perspective on New Guinean ritual art -
Archaeologist Rachel Schats on Science071 about malaria in medieval low countries -
Caribbean island of St. Kitts gets first Doctor in Archaeology -
Interview with osteoarchaeologist Rachel Schats in National Geographic Magazine -
Treasure hunting takes toll on Eastern Badia archaeological site -
Video: Ethnobotanical immersion in Cameroon -
Archaeologist Andrew Sorensen on Dutch TV on prehistoric BBQ -
Osteoarchaeology Laboratory takes centre stage in student video on osteology -
'Small brewers show how craft principles could reshape the economy – but they’re under threat' -
'Eastern Desert tombs reflect successful culture adapted to harsh environment’
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Ancient populations pioneered the idea of recycling waste -
Digging into stone age secrets -
Archaeologist Sada Mire hosts radio and TV programmes -
Siberian 'unicorn' takes centre stage in radio interview -
Wil Roebroeks interviewed about new discoveries Borneo: "This killed Eurocentric views on early rock art" -
Burial mound research in National Geographic Historia -
Devastation of the Museu Nacional Brazil: “I have no words to say how horrible this is.” -
Archaeologist Meliam Gaspar interviewed about isolated indigenous groups by Dutch news show -
Maritime archaeologist Martijn Manders on National Geographic channel -
Heritage specialist Mariana de Campos Françozo interviewed by EURAXESS
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Luc Janssens and Thijs van Kolfschoten in National Geographic -
Karsten Lambers in Dutch newspaper about new techniques in archaeology -
Quantitative paleodietary reconstruction with complex foodwebs: An isotopic case study from the Caribbean -
Vitamin D deficiency prevalent among 19th century women in Dutch Beemster area -
'I always like to think prehistory chose me, not the other way around' -
"Archaeologists say human-evolution study used stolen bone" -
Shower of prizes at the World Cultural Council ceremony in Leiden -
Media attention for lime-producing Neanderthals -
Hundreds of Stone Tombs Discovered in Land of 'Dead Fire' -
The garden of Eden is Africa -
Martijn Manders about De Rooswijk at RTL Late Night & Pauw -
Dental tartar unfolds Neanderthal secrets -
Archaeologist Sada Mire in 'Africa's Great Civilizations' -
'Masterchefs from the Middle Ages' -
Project for protection Syrian archaeology on Dutch radio -
Archaeologist Hayley Mickleburgh hosted by radioshow Kennis van Nu -
Archaeologist Hayley Mickleburgh guest at talkshow RTL Late Night -
Archaeologist Roos van Oosten in Quest Historie -
Researchers find paw of Dutch bear
