Archaeology & Anthropology courses

Archaeology and anthropology allow us to explore the lives and experiences of past people, by examining the physical remains of the individuals and the material traces of their activities.

Dynamic community

You will be supported by a dynamic community of highly qualified and experienced scientists, scholars, research and support staff. Our academic team is actively engaged in cuttingedge research in the field, in areas as diverse as human evolution, the emergence of agriculture, how societies treated their dead and how we might recognise signs of conflict in the past.

International conferences

We also regularly host internationally renowned researchers at conferences, talks and other events in Bournemouth and benefit from being situated in a part of the world known globally for its iconic archaeological sites, from Stonehenge to Maiden Castle.

Hands-on learning

Hands-on, practical teaching and learning using our world-class teaching and research facilities, equipment and collections is a hallmark of our qualifications. As a result, a Master's from BU provides a world-leading foundation in professional practice that is highly valued by employers in the sector and beyond.

If English is not your first language, you'll need an IELTS (Academic) qualification or equivalent. See each courses website for details.

MSc Bioarchaeology

Key Information

Duration & delivery: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Tuition fees:

UK/RoI: £8,500

Overseas: £16,000

Entry requirements: A Bachelor's Honours degree with 2:1 in a required subject, or equivalent

Required subjects: Archaeology, History, Biological Sciences, Biological Anthropology, Anthropology, Forensic Investigation, Forensic Biology, or Forensic Science

This course is set within the wider context and perspective of archaeological studies, with options to explore the interpretation of archaeological human and animal remains and evolutionary and palaeoenvironmental themes. It is suited to graduates from a number of fields as well as practising archaeologists looking to expand their knowledge. It provides an excellent foundation if you want to pursue a career as a specialist osteoarchaeological practitioner, or to pursue doctoral level study in bioarchaeology.

• Human and animal remains are amongst the most common finds on archaeological excavations of all periods

• We have an incredible collection of skeletal remains, comprising more than 700 human specimens and over 500 reference skeletons of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. This is one of the largest such collections to be held by any UK university

• The archaeological profession has an established and increasing need for staff with osteoarchaeological training to assist in the interpretation of archaeological sites and understanding the human experience in the past, particularly their relationships with animals.

Units of study: Principles & Methods in Human Osteology | Principles & Methods in Zooarchaeology | Palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic Archaeology* | Archaeology of the Dead: Disease, Decay and Funerary Interpretation* | Research Project.

Case study: Viking massacre

In 2009, the small town of Weymouth in Dorset was preparing itself to host the sailing events of the 2012 London Olympics. As contractors cut through the chalk in an area called Ridgeway Hill as part of the Weymouth relief road they were building, they made a shocking discovery.

In a shallow grave that has been dated to Viking times, they discovered a group of decapitated skeletons – 54 bodies and 51 heads, to be precise. Radiocarbon dating placed the deaths at between AD 980 and 1030, a time when Anglo Saxon England was under attack from Vikings.

Cutting-edge research

These hugely important historical finds can now be seen in the Dorset Museum. This display draws upon findings obtained by BU academics – including PhD graduate Dr Heather Tamminen, who applied digital methods to capture data that have produced an accurate record of the bones and injuries for study and display in 3D virtual form.

Working together

The evidence suggests that these individuals were brutally attacked, each sustaining multiple injuries, and that they were most likely unarmed when they were later killed. Thanks to the work of a large group of archaeologists, including the team at BU, their story can now be told, a thousand years after their shocking deaths.