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Which degree is best? Archaeology or archaeology and ancient history?

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  Posted by Laura-and-her-trowel (U3665494) on Sunday, 2nd April 2006

  It wont be too long before I will have to start making a decision about which course I am going to apply for at university and I am really stuck between two courses. I really want to study archaeology and ancient history together but I fear that if I do that course then I wont have enough experience to become an archaeologist. I want to do archaeology in as much detail as I possibly can but I also want study ancient history and learn some ancient languages. Is there anybody who is working in the archaeology field or has done an archaeology degree that can give me some advice? Has anybody got any suggestions? By the way, I am almost positive that I want to go to Birmingham University to study my degree so those are the courses I am choosing between.
  
  
  
  

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  Posted by fairlace (U2945279) on Sunday, 2nd April 2006

  It wont be too long before I will have to start making a decision about which course I am going to apply for at university and I am really stuck between two courses. I really want to study archaeology and ancient history together but I fear that if I do that course then I wont have enough experience to become an archaeologist. I want to do archaeology in as much detail as I possibly can but I also want study ancient history and learn some ancient languages. Is there anybody who is working in the archaeology field or has done an archaeology degree that can give me some advice? Has anybody got any suggestions? By the way, I am almost positive that I want to go to Birmingham University to study my degree so those are the courses I am choosing between.
  
  
  
  Μύ Hi Laura. I can't give you any specific advice about your course dilemma, just tell you how my second son solved his dilemma. He was undecided between medieval history and economics and eventually got a place at St Andrews. He was able to to one third medieval hisory and two thirds economics which was exactly what he found most helpful as he wanted to do journalism. Bad news is of course that Scottish universities have a four year course. I am sure archaeology is more difficult because of the practical element but might it be worth looking to see if you can do a split by majoring in archaeology with a lesser ancint history part?

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  Posted by Justin (U1929626) on Friday, 7th April 2006

  I think some universities do Archaeology with Ancient History - it's something you'll have to check with each Uni. From a personal point of view I think Archaeology is the best bet: as far as knowledge about the ancient past goes, you can cover that quite well enough by taking the right units in your Archaeology course.

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  Posted by Laura-and-her-trowel (U3665494) on Saturday, 8th April 2006

  Thank you both for your help, I am still unsure about what I am going to do but your opinions have helped me think about it in a better perspective. I am going on a training dig this summer so I will ask people for advice then too. I am sure I will come to a conclusion eventually.
  

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  Posted by Euergetes (U2891066) on Monday, 10th April 2006

  Hi Laura,
  
  I went to the University of Birmingham from 1992 to 1995 and studied Anchient History and Archaeology there...
  
  Choosing a degree and a Uni is a very personal thing - it's more than just grades.
  
  In my case, I didn't study History at either GCSE or A-level. I thought the GCSE History syllabus was rubbish. However, I studied Latin to A-level and that ignited my love of everything ancient. I also studied biology, geography and the ubiquitious General Studies
  
  I initially wanted to read Classics at Exeter but didn't get the required pass in Latin. As an aside, even now I can remember the despair and panic at finding that you've missed out on both Uni's of choice. There is tremendous pressure to go through clearing. I'd advise that if you don't get the right grades, take a year out and re-apply - don't go through clearing. In that year out you can re-sit any exams or more importantly, get a job and earn some cash to be spent at Uni.
  
  I chose AHA because I wanted to study ancient history.. a standard history degree covers all periods. As for Birmingham... it is a beautiful campus and coming from Kent, it was close enough to go home every now and then but not that close that parents would want to come up and visit every week!! If you haven't yet, i'd suggest visiting on an open day.
  
  As for the course - AHA vs A. Archaeology isn't just about digging holes and History isn't just about reading books.
  
  Archaeology is a very science base discipline. I'm not sure what the entry requirement is but if it's just points, I'd suggest that your A-levels should be science based - biology certainly.
  Check out the BUFAU website - Birmingham Field Archaeology Unit - www.bufau.ac.uk (iir). That should give you some idea of the services modern archaeologists offer and what you'd be studying. Also give them a call and ask. They're a good bunch of people. I loved archaeology but found poking around beetle shells in a lab to be rather dull (and sitting exams on the importance of beetle remains just short of suicide inducing!)
  
  As for AHA. Do you have any periods that you want to study? The first year is a rather broad based study of Roman History, Greek History, British pre-history, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Archaeology method and practices and European history. You then specialise in yr 2 & 3. You also do a language subsidiary (ie ancient grrek, latin, german)
  The way to look at it is that in year 1 they teach you history. In year 2 they discuss the sources and get you to examine then and then in year 3 you take what you've learnt in year 1 and rip it to shreads with what you've learned from the sources.
  For me, I specialised in Roman history. I studied numismatics and wrote a dissertation on Roman agriculture during the late republic.
  All the department goes on a field excavation every year - in Year 1 we went to Wroxeter in Shropshire and in Year 2, to St Bertrand De Comminges in the Haute-Garonne. You also get to go on a study tour over easter (I went to Egypt!)
  So there is practical archaeological experience. You can also join various archaeological groups and participate in local digs.
  
  I hope that some of this is helpful. Good luck in your choice.
  
  Kind regards
  
  Wayne

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  Posted by Laura-and-her-trowel (U3665494) on Monday, 10th April 2006

  Wow!! Thank you very much, that is very helpful! I was really hoping that I would get some advice from someone who actually went to Birmingham.
  
  I am doing A-level biology at the moment so that is good . I also felt the same about history that was offered at my school. It is all very dull and the teachers that taught it made it ten times worse so I never did it.
  
  I am going to the open day in June so that should be interesting. Yeah, there is an awful lot of depth to archaeology that is why I am unsure if the combined course is in enough detail as I think career wise I will actually go into archaeology. I have been getting my way through Archaeology: Theory, Methods, and Practice and there is a lot of topics to cover. I still want to know what I am going on about when talking about the history as well though.
  
  I am particularly interested in the ancient Egyptians although I enjoy learning about any ancient civilisations to be honest. That is another reason why I was attracted to the Birmingham course as it is quite broad with the different civilisations that you can study. I looked at Leicester but that course is limited to about 3 civilisations. I really want to learn an ancient language. I am teaching myself a bit of Latin at the moment actually. I wish I had the opportunity to study it at A-level or even GCSE.
  
  Sorry this is all very bitty by the way, I am replying to bits that you have said.
  
  Thank you again for your help, it must have taken you ages to write all that.
  
  Laura
  

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  Posted by Sabre-Wulf (U2142937) on Tuesday, 11th April 2006

  I applied to do Ancient History at Swansea but ended up doing Medieval Studies at Birmingham instead. The campus is really great and all the History lecturers I met at Brum were very nice and very knowledgable.I'd highly recommend it.
  
  Never saw the attraction of archaeology though. Given the choice between digging around in a muddy field in the rain or reading a nice piece of Middle Welsh prose in a warm, comfy library I know which I'd choose.
  
  Good luck though!
  
  

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  Posted by Laura-and-her-trowel (U3665494) on Tuesday, 11th April 2006

  I can't wait to get muddy I don't think you get to go on that many excavations to be honest within any archaeology course anyway so that is up to me to sort out. It is more about interpreting things that will take up the bulk of it. But I love ancient history too! Why can't I just do both courses??!! I will have to ask them which course will suit me best.

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  Posted by Euergetes (U2891066) on Tuesday, 11th April 2006

  Hiya,
  
  You mentioned that you were interested in Egyptian history. When you go to the open day, try and speak to Dr Leahy. Aside from being an excellent lecturer, he's also done a lot of field work in Egypt (IIRC mainly Middle Egypt - El Armana). I'm sure he'll be able to offer a lot of advice on whether to go along the AHA or Archaeology route.
  Also, while you're there, pop into the Barber Institute - it's next to the Guild (Student Union).
  It is one of the best small museum/galleries in the UK.
  I can't quite remember who heads up BUFAU - i'll have to e-mail some Uni friends for that info and then I'll let you know

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  Posted by DocMike15 (U3167117) on Wednesday, 12th April 2006

  I must admit that since your going to Birmingham, my experience at other places is of little use! I would say that have a look around the place first - the feel of a uni is very important. Dont go to a place simply because your friend (or even worse - boyfriend!) goes there. Make sure that the mix of courses is right for you (although you can change - if you find out that you dont like X, then you can do Y), and that there is a fair chance of field work. Many courses (including my ungrad) required 6 weeks over 3 years (which is actually 2), thats a lot to be working when you might have to earn money to pay to live, etc. Look out for bursaries, etc. Always look at the student halls, including the ones miles away (thats where they'll put you!), and dont believe the prospectus - thats an advert.
  Egyptology is cool, but there are relatively few people in it, and you will spend a lot of time studying a very dead language ( I shared a room with a Egytologist). If you want the best of all worlds, then there is UCL (my old place), but London is now very expensive.
  
  Whatever you do, enjoy it, since you don't do Archaeology for a good job, you do it for the love of the subject. Talk to the students whereever you go, and remember that you can mix and match. Also don't do what I did when I applied to Reading, and not know that you could choose which course units you wanted (I had forgotten to read the information they sent me) - I was very embarrassed and didn't go to Reading!

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  Posted by Laura-and-her-trowel (U3665494) on Wednesday, 26th April 2006

  I suppose you are quite right about that. 6 weeks is a lot when you have got to pay to live etc. I never really thought about it that way. I think I would still try to get as much experience as I could though. I hope there will be some local projects.

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  Posted by Laura-and-her-trowel (U3665494) on Wednesday, 26th April 2006

  Oh by the way I don't want to do Egyptology as a topic on its own, it is just an area that I find very interesting and would love to study formally. I find lots of civilisations fascinating so I like to keep it quite broad.

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  Posted by TheMagna (U624602) on Thursday, 27th April 2006

  There is a Classical Archaeology and Ancient History course at Oxford, if you want another university on your UCAS form

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  Posted by generallobus (U1869191) on Friday, 28th April 2006

  Laura,
  
  I can only talk about my own experience. I took a combined ancient hist/archaeol degree in Liverpool some years back. I found that when I was on digs the pure archaeologists kept asking me to tell them about Roman History as they had very little idea regarding some kind of context for the materials they were uncovering. I don't know if this is a common occurence or if the bunch I was with were just thicker than usual but it did lead me to think that the combination was the best, maybe not for employment but certainly for context.

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  Posted by theduke69 (U2716654) on Saturday, 27th May 2006

  hi laura,
  I've been excavating at Vindolanda in Northumberland and believe me it is very hard work. when you go to uni to do arch. you will have the opportunity to go on digs. If its something you want too do then good luck. but it's a very physical rewarding experience and i love it muck and all. all the best
  

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  Posted by TwinProbe (U4077936) on Sunday, 28th May 2006

  Hi Laura
  
  It sounds as if you have your future well worked out. The very best of luck; I'm sure that you'll never regret studying archaeology, but there is a further possibility that might be worth considering for some students.
  
  Archaeology is very science based these days. As well as scientific dating, there is a great use made of instrumental analysis, and geophysics. On the biological side there is environmental archaeology and osteoarchaeology, to name but two. The University of Bradford offers a degree in archaeological sciences, but at many universities there is also the possibility of a BSc in your favourite science followed by an MA in archaeology.
  
  I know of very happy and successful archaeologists with first degrees in physics or materials science. But, to be honest, almost any skill or qualification (not necessarily even an academic one) can be put to use in archaeology. If you love the past I can guarantee that the past will love you back!
  
  TP

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  Posted by Laura-and-her-trowel (U3665494) on Sunday, 28th May 2006

  I actually went on my first dig today and I really enjoyed it. I wasn't expecting to find anything at all and then after ten minutes I found a piece of iron age pottery. Throughout the day I found two more pieces. The one piece was actually quite big and it had a pattern on it made by them using their fingernails to create an impression in the clay. I am going to work on the site every other week now.
  Over the next two months I am going to some open days so I should be able to get a better idea of what I want to do.

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  Posted by Laura-and-her-trowel (U3665494) on Sunday, 28th May 2006

  Thank you for the advice again by the way, I appreciate it

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