Discovering Archaeology: From Field to Finds Room
Course dates: Wednesday 07 October - Wednesday 16 December 2026
Class timetable: 10 sessions (View class timetable for Wednesday 07 October 2026 to Wednesday 16 December 2026)
Timetable data for Wednesday 07 October 2026 to Wednesday 16 December 2026
| Day of class | Date of class | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 07-Oct-2026 | 5:00pm - 8:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 14-Oct-2026 | 5:00pm - 8:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 21-Oct-2026 | 5:00pm - 8:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 28-Oct-2026 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 04-Nov-2026 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 18-Nov-2026 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 25-Nov-2026 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 02-Dec-2026 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 09-Dec-2026 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
| Wednesday | 16-Dec-2026 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Birkbeck Campus, Central London |
Location: Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Fees: £1810.00
RegisterCourse Overview
The Discovering Archaeology: From Field to Finds Room short course provides you with a basic introduction to the practical and analytical skills of archaeology. Lectures and classes are designed to give you a comprehensive picture of the discipline and its practice in a contemporary context, with subjects ranging from preliminary site assessments to the excavation of a site and its interpretation.
Focusing on the archaeology of historical periods, one of our goals is to gain a clearer understanding of the ways in which evidence is preserved in the archaeological record, and how data from fieldwork converges and contrasts with that derived from the written record.
Another goal is to introduce you to the different techniques of archaeological investigation, not only excavation but also non-invasive techniques.
We will evaluate current techniques of archaeology through case studies from a range of sites in northern Europe and the Mediterranean region, dating from the archaic to medieval periods. The case studies have been selected to demonstrate applications of different methods and encourage consideration of specialist debates in the field.
The course includes practical exercises in archaeological excavations, and lectures by full-time staff and visiting specialists working in geoarchaeology, maritime archaeology, numismatics and other disciplines.
We plan to cover the following content:
- What is archaeology (including history)?
- Survey and excavation
- Field trip
- Built archaeology: standing buildings
- Dating and deposits
- Ecofacts and artefacts
- Bones (fauna and human remains)
- Narratives: writing and presenting the past
- Review: the practice of archaeology
Assessment of this course is via two 500-word reviews (20% each) and a 1500-word essay (60%).
As a student on this course, you will study alongside Birkbeck students enrolled on one of our undergraduate or postgraduate courses, giving you the opportunity to network with a range of Birkbeck current students whilst you learn.
This can be taken as a standalone short course or as part of:
Fees
Students are charged a tuition fee for each short course on registering. Please view details for this course, including dates, location and fees at the top of this page. Short course fees may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see our Fees Policy.
Birkbeck's Lifelong Learning Guarantee
If you've studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a reduction on the tuition fee of this course.
Entry Requirements
Most of our short courses have no formal entry requirements and are open to all students.
This short course has no prerequisites.
As part of the registration process, you may be required to submit a copy of a suitable form of ID.
International students who wish to come to the UK to study a short course can apply for a Visitor visa. Please note that it is not possible to obtain a Student visa to study a short course.
How to Register
You register directly onto the classes you would like to take. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis - so register early.
If you want to take more than one short course, you can select each one separately and then register onto them together via our online application portal. There is usually no formal selection process, although some modules may have prerequisites and/or other requirements, which will be specified where relevant.