# Department of Archaeology
**Source**: https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/
**Parent**: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/
A world-renowned department, exploring the breadth of the human past and pioneering a future in sustainable heritage.
## Study with us
**Join an outstanding, inclusive academic community with a global outlook.**
Develop an understanding of the deep past through creative research-driven teaching. Experience amazing archaeological and heritage sites on your doorstep, and a city renowned for its history and architecture.
[Discover our courses](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/study/)
[Find scholarships and funding](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/study/funding/)
## Our research
**Groundbreaking research tackling global issues.**
At York, we combine cultural approaches and scientific analysis. We challenge issues from the origins of human behaviour to contemporary heritage management.
Our research has taken us from Yorkshire - the Mesolithic site of [Star Carr](http://www.starcarr.com/) - to international projects in Africa, through to innovations in digital heritage.
We host several international research centres producing impactful research across the breadth of archaeological and heritage study.
[Explore our research and centres](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/research/)
> Our Department is recognised internationally as one of the best places to study archaeology and heritage and we tackle global issues that are both important and challenging. I really love working at York, not only because staff are so passionate about their work but also because the Department of Archaeology is a really friendly place to be!
Stephanie Wynne-Jones, Head of Department
[Top five in the UK](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/about/news/news-2025/qs-world-university-rankings-by-subject-2025/)
**and 25th in the world**, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025.
[A city of history and heritage](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/student-life/york-yorkshire/)
York is a contemporary student-friendly city. Rich in history and heritage, it's one of the best places to study and research archaeology and conservation of buildings.
[Exceptional facilities](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/about/facilities/)
Our exciting range of facilities and research centres offer bespoke laboratories, teaching spaces, and specialist equipment and technologies.
[Equality, diversity and inclusion](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/about/equality-diversity/)
We're proud to hold an Athena Swan Silver award in recognition of our continuing commitment to equality.
## News
News
### [Ancient societies ‘far more democratic than assumed’, study suggests](https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2026/research/ancient-societies-democratic/)
18 March 2026
Democracy may be far older and more widespread than previously thought, according to a new study of ancient civilisations.
News
### [Introducing the Reid Scholarship](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/about/news/2026/introducing-reid-scholarship/)
6 March 2026
Investing in the Future of Archaeology - Promoting the study of archaeology by removing some financial barriers for under-represented groups.
News
### [New Bioarchaeological Research Provides Insight Into Mesolithic Cuisine](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/about/news/2026/bioarchaeological-research-mesolithic-cuisine/)
4 March 2026
New research published in PLoS One by Lara González Carretero and colleagues in BioArCh reveals that Mesolithic hunter-gatherer communities across Northern Europe exhibited surprisingly selective food choices.
News
### [CiFA and our Archaeology Degrees](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/about/news/2026/cifa-archaeology-degrees/)
25 February 2026
The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CiFA) recognition continues for our Undergraduate Archaeology Degrees.
[More news](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/about/news/)
## Events
*There are no events to show here right now. Please check back another time.*
[More events](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/about/events/)
## Information for...
### [Current staff and students in Archaeology](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/current-students-staff/)
### [Alumni](https://www.york.ac.uk/alumni/)
People
[Meet our staff](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/people/)
About us
[Discover who we are](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/about/)
Campus map
[Find us on campus](https://www.york.ac.uk/map/#locid356)
Facilities
[Explore our facilities](https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/about/facilities/)