Since its inception by Professor Barry Cunliffe in 1967, Archaeology at Southampton has played a leading role in the development of social archaeology, and was instrumental in the development of the World Archaeological Congress during the tenure of Professor Peter Ucko and hosted the first Congress in 1986. More recently Southampton has led the field in the development of community archaeology, politics of the past, and the social context of archaeological knowledge. It remains a world-leader in social theory, feminist theory and archaeological approaches to age and the life course. This strand was strengthened by the recent appointment of the internationally renown theorist Professor Matthew Johnson.

Within the programme you can develop your own interests in the archaeology of any period or region. You will have the opportunity to explore current themes in social archaeology while fostering and deepening your regional and period based specialisms. The range and flexibility of this programme combine with the exceptional breadth of staff expertise to make Southamptons MA Social Archaeology unique among programmes currently offered in the UK and abroad, and will attract a dynamic mix of international students.
This course is designed for students who want to:

* continue their study of archaeology beyond undergraduate level
* acquire an introduction to graduate research work before deciding on the next step in their careers
* develop their critical skills in the interpretation of materials from the past
* move on to PhD level work
* deepen their understanding of archaeology as part of a career change