Universiteit Leiden

nl en

Archaeological Science (MSc)

Programme structure

Dive into the heart of archaeological science: explore the flora and fauna of bygone ages, study human bones and teeth, analyse the cultural biographies of material objects, or become an expert in the use of computational methods in archaeological research.

Programme outline

35 ec

Career profile (3 courses) +  thesis

  • Current Issues in Archaeological Science
  • Quantitative Methods in Archaeology
  • Specialisation course (options: Archaeobotany, Archaeozoology, Human Osteoarchaeology, Computational Archaeology, Material Culture)
5 ec Scientific Methodology in Archaeology
10 ec Region Focus area  (2 courses)
10 ec Elective (2 courses)


Your career profile, region focus area, and thesis subject determine your specialisation and your eventual area of expertise.

Some of the courses

Scientific Methodology in Archaeology

This introductory course intends to provide an overview of key concepts and methods used in the archaeological sciences. As an introductory course to the MSc programme, this course will be based on lectures and the study of literature. Hands-on, practical courses will then be offered by the different specialisations within the MSc programme.

Archaeozoology

This is a practical course where you would apply and expand the knowledge and skills you gained in archaeozoology during your bachelor's programme. This course will complete your training in order to investigate a broad spectrum of faunal remains from archaeological sites and assemblages.

Osteoarchaeology

This is a graduate seminar in human osteology and paleopathology designed to further knowledge about what human remains can tell us about the past. This class is for students who already have comprehensive training in the identification and basic analysis of human skeletal remains. It will be necessary for students who are developing research topics for their Master’s theses in osteoarchaeology, and of value to students who want to acquire the knowledge necessary to undertake doctoral research that involves human osteology.

Computational Archaeology

The Data Analysis with Python course focuses on the use of Python, a high-level, general-purpose programming language. It is suitable for many applications, ranging from digital humanities to engineering. We can use Python for archaeological data analysis and visualisation, machine learning and artificial intelligence applications in archaeology, automation, scientific computing, modelling and simulation, remote sensing, GIS, and many others. In this course, we learn key statistical tools and methodologies, such as regression analysis and non-parametric statistics. We utilise building blocks of (Python) programming, such as conditions, loops, and functions. "Data Analysis with Python" is a hands-on course, so you will get the opportunity to work on many real archaeological case studies.  

Region Focus Areas

Within your Focus Area programme part, you may pick two courses of a region of your choice.

  • Hunter-gatherer Archaeology
  • The Archaeology of Hominin Diversity
  • Europe I: Prehistory
  • Europe II: Historical Archaeology
  • Key Developments in European Prehistory
  • Archeologie en Erfgoed van Nederland
  • Neolithisation in West Asia
  • Eastern Mediterranean and West Asia
  • The Archaeology of the Assyrian Empire
  • Archaeology of the Crusades
  • Current Issues in the Archaeology of the Frontier Regions of the Roman Empire
  • The Archaeology of the Greek Mediterranean
  • Crafting the Greek World. Theory and practice
  • The Archaeology of Daily Life in the First Millennium CE in the Mediterranean
  • Ancient Networks
  • Americas

Complete overview

In the Prospectus you will find a complete overview and full course descriptions of the courses and focus areas Archaeological Science has to offer. Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.