Our Archaeology MPhil and PhD programmes are research degrees, conducted as supervised independent study, assessed through a single written document that is supported with a viva voce examination.
Both degrees involve the production of new knowledge through original research and advanced scholarship, exploring a field of academic study in detail. This involves detailed understanding of the methods, techniques and approaches needed to produce such knowledge, and the wider context of the subject of study.
Our PhD students produce a thesis which includes material worthy of academic publication. A PhD qualification is usually necessary for an academic career involving post-doctoral research and/or lecturing.
These programmes are based in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology and cover a wide range of specialisms. Research supervision is available in the following periods and regions:
Later Prehistory
- Mesolithic/Neolithic transition in north-west Europe
- Neolithic and Early Bronze Age of Britain and north-west Europe
- Copper and Bronze Age in Italy and the Mediterranean
- Iron Age/Roman transition
Classical Archaeology
- Roman Britain
- Roman Europe and Mediterranean
- Roman urbanism
- Greek and Byzantine archaeology
- The Roman/medieval transition
Medieval and Post-Medieval ArchaeologyÊ
Early medieval Britain and Europe
Byzantine archaeology
Medieval and post-medieval landscapes
- Church archaeology, historic buildings
- Post-medieval archaeology, colonialism, slavery
- Historical North America
- Foodways and human-animal relationships
Thematic research is also strong at Newcastle and research supervision is available in the following areas of enquiry:
Bodies and Identity
- Personhood and identity
- The archaeology of the body and mortuary archaeology
- Art and identity
- Food and identity
Landscapes
- Landscape archaeology
- Ritual landscapes
- Historic landscape characterisation
Material Culture
- Ancient technology and economy
- Ancient metallurgy
- Artefact analysis and material culture studies
