Our Staff
Good research resources and facilities are vital to successful study. Members of the academic staff are some of our most important resources, providing you with taught courses and research supervision at the forefront of archaeological enquiry. Archaeology has 11 members of permanent staff and 3 honorary staff who are all research-active and contribute to our teaching. In addition, we have several postdoctoral fellows who contribute to our lively research atmosphere. Fieldwork of one kind or another is an important aspect of archaeological enquiry and all of our students engage in it as part of their studies. Lecturers and particularly the Archaeology Technician provide guidance in this area drawing on their own experience and contacts.
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The Manchester Museum
One of our key resources for archaeology students is The Manchester Museum, which is part of the University and has outstanding collections of Egyptian, Classical and other antiquities. Manchester students can also draw upon the resources of museums in Chester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, and Carlisle. Many of the academic staff also have close connections with national heritage bodies, such as English Heritage and Historic Scotland, and students studying the conservation, management and representation of archaeological heritage often engage with these institutions as well as the Museums mentioned above and many more beyond the region.
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The John Rylands University Library
The John Rylands University Library (JRUL) is one of the great research libraries in the UK, with extensive holdings in all arts and humanities disciplines including over 4 million printed books, in addition to the strongest collection of electronic resources in any European university, standing at over 30,000 e-journals, 400,000 e-books and several hundred databases. The library resources for Archaeology have been built up over several decades and as a consequence there is a substantial collection in this area. Likewise, the Social Anthropology collection is very good and provides an excellent resource for postgraduate students working in the realm of social archaeology. The John Rylands Deansgate Library, located in the centre of Manchester, has an outstanding collection of manuscripts and antiquarian texts.
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The Art and Archaeology Site Library
Archaeology also shares a disciplinary library with Art History. We keep the most frequently used books in this library for reference. It provides a pleasant and quiet working environment for students. The library is 'reference only' during the week, but books can be taken out over the weekend, from 2:00 pm on Friday until 10:30 am on Monday.
Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit (GMAU)
GMAU has maintained the Greater Manchester Sites and Monuments Record since 1980 and it is now an invaluable planning and research tool. Its database currently houses over 17,000 records, over 1,200 'grey literature' reports and a vast image collection. Whilst all periods of archaeology are represented, GMAU have made particular efforts to record sites from the industrial period both above and below ground, reflecting the area's world importance during this period. |
Equipment and Laboratories
Archaeology has a full range of equipment to support fieldwork, including advanced survey instruments. Recent purchases enabled by the Your Manchester Fund (supported by the University alumni programme) have significantly strengthened our geophysics abilities in particular. The laboratories are also equiped for a wide range of research, which is supported by a full time archaeological technician. We have a large teaching laboratory, used for undergraduate classes at all levels and available to students working on dissertations. There are also two smaller laboratories, one a general research laboratory and the second used by long term projects.
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Teaching and Research Accommodation
Last, but by no means least, amongst the resources for archaeology students is the accommodation available for teaching and research. The School's offices, teaching rooms, and library/reading room are situated together in our modern building with its own café. Archaeology and Art History and Visual Studies PhD students share a large open-plan office equipped with computer facilities. There is a postgraduate common room with networked computers for both taught and research postgraduate students situated in our building.
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