Resources

The School

Our historic building combines study spaces with exhibition areas and extensive laboratory facilities. The School has a large teaching collection of archaeological human skeletal remains from Scotland as well as an excellent range of casts and equipment.

We have five dedicated archaeology laboratories for teaching and research, which students will have the opportunity to access during the programme. Some will be available out with normal teaching hours for self-directed study and research. Our laboratories are:

• a chemistry lab for collagen extraction and preparation of experimental materials
• a wet lab for skeletal and experimental processing
• a microscope lab
• a research lab
• a computer lab giving access to a range of specialist software

Student research is also supported through loans of specialist equipment such as callipers, cameras, computers and scanners.

• Laboratories

We have our own library, known as the Student Research Room, which is a large airy space used both for study and to house the School’s book collections, including the Archaeology and Anthropological collections. Students can also join cross-School research groups which aim to stimulate inter-disciplinary, collaborative research, and widen awareness of individual scholarship.

• School research centres
• School research groups

The University

The University Library is one of the largest university libraries in the UK and contains a substaintial collection of primary and secondary materials and a vast collection of rare books and manuscripts.

• Library
• Library subject guide for Archaeology

Students are able to access the University's uCreate Studio. This studio offers access equipment including 3D scanners and printers. uCreate is staffed by specialist technicians who are available to offer advice, training, and support for your project.

Students are also able, after prior agreement, to make use of additional analytical facilities for research projects in other Schools throughout the University, which in the past have included the School of Engineering and the School of Vetinary Studies.

The City

Edinburgh’s rich historical resources, collections and archives feature prominently in our teaching and the Archaeology subject area enjoys close ties with various museums, galleries and Historic Environment Scotland. Edinburgh is also home to many national commercial archaeological companies, with possible opportunities for advice, fieldwork and work experience.

• National Museums Scotland
• National Library of Scotland
• National Records of Scotland
• National Galleries of Scotland
• Historic Environment Scotland
• Surgeon’s Hall Museum
• Anatomical Museum
• Museum of Edinburgh

Partnership agreements

 We work closely with partner institutions in Edinburgh, such as the National Museums of Scotland, and institutions throughout the world, such as the Anthropological Centre of the Croatian Academy of Science and Arts in Zagreb, and the Department of Anatomy, Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Vilnius University in Lithuania. These partnerships allow our students access to:

• varieties of skeletal remains collections for research projects
• a collegiate network of professionals working at the cutting edge of human osteoarchaeology
• guest lectures from world leading experts