MA Palaeolithic Archaeology and Human Origins

This course aims to examine the rich, global archaeological evidence for the study of our earliest origins, using Palaeolithic and Quaternary archives, and provides you with the basis for future research work. You will be trained in the practical analysis of Palaeolithic stone artefacts and encouraged to place this knowledge into a broad framework based on current interdisciplinary research. This will enable you to investigate the key questions in human evolution, including the development of technology and language; to understand the reasons why society evolved; and to participate in the long-running debate about the fate of the Neanderthals. The course is aimed at two groups of people: Those with an undergraduate degree in archaeology who wish to prepare themselves for research work and PhD. Our course is designed as a bridge between the undergraduate and post-graduate experience, and the practical aspect of this is particularly important. Many of our students go on to achieve success at gaining Arts and Humanities Research Council funding for their PhD. People with a lively interest in Palaeolithic archaeology and human origins who may not wish to pursue a research career, but who would like to deepen their knowledge of this most fascinating aspect of archaeology.