We are one of the world’s leading archaeology departments. Our work takes in the full scope of human history, from early hunter-gatherers through to the origins of agriculture, and the classical and medieval worlds, as well as the environmental settings in which they existed. We do this in just about every inhabited part of the world. The past is of vital interest to the present too, because it raises complex issues of identity, ethics and belonging that we see as crucial areas for debate.
We have several specialist centres within the School which focus on particular themes or methods: they include the internationally recognised Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (incorporating a national NERC Radiocarbon Facility), the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology, the PalaeoBarn (home of the Wellcome Trust Palaeogenomics & Bio-Archaeology Research Network), and the Oxford Centre for Asian Archaeology, Art and Culture.
