Global Archaeology (MA)
The master’s track in Global Archaeology provides you with a unique understanding of local, and regional developments and how these are connected to global processes and dynamics. Within this track, you will explore the archaeological past of Europe, the Americas, or the Mediterranean and West Asia.
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Maxence Ballif
Master's student
'Having a background in Sociology, I have always been interested in broad concepts and phenomena such as inequalities, the emergence of cities, or the complexification of social systems. When it came to choosing a specialisation, I went for Global Archaeology because it offered the most appropriate environment to study these topics in a more theoretical way.'
'Furthermore, I chose to focus on West Asia both because it constitutes a great framework to tackle the issues I was interested in, and because the long history of research in the region forces us to adopt a self-critical stance as researchers which I find positively challenging.'
'My favourite course was David Fontijn’s class on how deep History shaped modern societies. It pushed me to question a lot of preconceptions I had and to have better grasp on the role Archaeology can play in current societal debates. After my Master’s, ideally I wish to continue my journey within academia.'
Bleda Düring
Professor
The archaeology programme provides a window into the fascinating world of past societies, which differed markedly from those of today. You can get to know these societies by studying their physical remains through a multitude of methods and techniques that make up archaeology. Brace yourself for a life changing programme!
Marthe Donders
Alumna
I chose the master’s programme in Archaeology to get a more in-depth knowledge of Mediterranean archaeology. I felt like the Faculty of Archaeology in Leiden was the best place to do so because the discipline has its own faculty at Leiden University, giving a lot of options in regards to course variety, the possibilities to go abroad and to really explore all the different choices within archaeology.
What does the Global Archaeology (MA) programme entail?
You will develop your knowledge of a region of your choice and consider how it fits into a broader global context. This track prepares you for a career as a regional archaeologist in cultural resource management (CRM), with commercial archaeological companies, consultancies, local governments and museums.
Our courses will deepen your knowledge of past societies and how they developed, changed, and interacted. For your chosen focus region, you will obtain an in-depth understanding of material culture, cultural-historical background, and scholarly traditions and research practices.
You will explore current archaeological knowledge and debates, and learn how to use archaeological evidence to address questions about how societies developed and changed.
In your thesis, you will bring together what you have learned by conducting research within your chosen region and considering how your findings contribute to our understanding of the history of the region and human history more broadly.
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Study the archaeology of Europe: from Neanderthals living on the windswept plains of Pleistocene Europe to the cities of the 19th century. -
Explore the archaeology of the Mediterranean and West Asia: from the Neolithisation starting in Mesopotamia to the material remains left by the Crusades -
Investigate the archaeology of the Americas: from alternative forms of socio-political hierarchies to the relevance of contemporary indigenous heritage. -
Enhance your skillset further by choosing an elective in archaeological science -
Join one of the Faculty research projects as an intern and gain a head start on the job market after graduation
Why Global Archaeology (MA) at Leiden University?
- Study at one of the global centres of excellence in archaeological research and teaching, that is consistently in the top ten of the world.
- Gain a holistic perspective on the past, by obtaining the knowledge to reflect on the relation between the local, the regional, and the global.
- Learn from world-renown experts on the archaeology of Europe, the Mediterranean and West Asia, and the Americas on topics ranging from millions of year ago to the present.
- Benefit from our large network in international research and our many fieldwork projects.
- Gain a solid basis for a national or international career in the archaeology or heritage sectors.
More reasons to study Global Archaeology at Leiden University.