Archaeology
The archaeology subject at the Department of Historical Studies has one of the most dynamic research environments in the Nordic countries, with a geographical focus on Europe, Latin America and Africa, and a chronological span from the Stone Age to the present.
Research is conducted across a very broad thematic field, including historical ecology, political economy and organization, maritime contacts, migration, urbanization, agriculture and other subsistence economies, trade and exchange, gender, cultural heritage, and genetic relationships and disease history.
Archaeological education and research at the department has traditionally had a theoretical, socially critical and international orientation, where research and discussions about the historical and contemporary role of archaeology and cultural heritage, including for sustainability challenges, both in Sweden and in different parts of the world, are central.
Education and research are also characterized by the rapid technological and methodological development in the subject in recent decades, e.g. non-destructive survey methods (LiDAR, ground penetrating radar, magnetometer, etc.), 3D modeling, metal provenance determination, and methods for geoarchaeology, archaeobotany and bioarchaeology.
The archaeology subject at the department has a dynamic approach to critical theory and expertise in archaeological applications of natural science methods, and with extensive external funding (including 3 ERC, 3 RJ and 4 VR) several large regional, national and international interdisciplinary research projects have been developed. This dynamism contributes to a diverse and active research and education environment whose networks and exchange contacts extend over large parts of the world.
The department also runs SHFA (Swedish Rock Art Research Archives), is a central part of the University 91̽»¨'s interdisciplinary research center CCHS (Centre for Critical Heritage Studies) and has close contacts with other research centers at the University 91̽»¨. Within the framework of Kulturarvsakademin (Heritage Academy), there exists a cooperation with the West Swedish cultural heritage institutions, e.g. county museums, Gothenburg City Museum and the Museum of World Culture. The annual Archaeology Day, organized by the department, for the region's archaeologists with lectures on the year's activities has become a tradition.
Against this background, the subject of archaeology is in the top hundred list in the 'QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025'.
