BA Archaeology

The appearance of cities has often been seen as one of the most profound historical social changes, especially to our modern world in which the majority of people now live in urban areas. However, the nature of early cities is poorly understood. This course explores the archaeology of the first cities in the world, in southern Mesopotamia in what is now modern Iraq. While mainly focused on the period from 4000 BCE to 2000 BCE, the course also considers the late Neolithic society from which these urban states emerged as well as claims that earlier large sites, such as Çatalhöyük, might be ascribed urban status. Through a series of case studies, this course explores the major theoretical perspectives, the archaeological data, and aspects of economic and social change. Furthermore, it considers the first cities as creative spaces, locations where “a certain energized crowding of people takes place” (Kostof 1991). The course examines the distinctive local social trajectories and the interaction between different regions as well as how these changes impacted on religion, the development of writing, identity, exclusion, memory and social roles. The different theoretical perspectives of archaeological and textual sources are also explored to understand how the study of the topic has changed. . These first Mesopotamia cities occupy a key place in the history of human society – the setting in which a series of ‘firsts’ appear; the first writing, the first kings, the first cities, the first legal systems, the first literature.

These developments had a fundamental influence on subsequent civilizations, including the classical world and even society today.

To examine and interpret long-term patterns of social change.

To understand ways of thinking about urbanism and engage with theory around urban space in an archaeological context.

To become familiar with the geography of Mesopotamia, the chronologies and key sites through a series of case studies.

To understand social organisation within an early urban society, as well develop approaches to understanding early urban states as dynamic, unstable entities.

To develop a greater appreciation of the changing ways in which material culture is used in the creation of social identities, including detailed knowledge of key examples.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the detailed interpretation of specific key sites and their implications for society.
• Express an in-depth knowledge of material culture in the Near East from later prehistory to the mid-2^nd millennium BC.
• Articulate an awareness of the impact of social, geographic and climatic factors of the development of human settlement in the Near East.
• Understand how textually- and archaeologically-informed approaches to the past can draw on different theoretical perspectives.

• Show an understanding of the complex interactions between different aspects of past societies.

• Demonstrate and understanding of how technological and organisational change occurs, and the ways in which it articulates with society and social change.
• Become accustomed to using primary archaeological data, and its biases and limitations.
• Understand the potential of modern media to explore research questions.
• Critically examine published works.
• Contribute to and critically edit other students’ contributions to the course Wiki.

• Experience of oral presentation;
• Use of PowerPoint or Prezi to support presentations;
• Use of standard Wiki software to create an online resource.

• Make use of enhanced team-working and individual research skills, in other learning environments;
• Independent research skills;
• Creation of co-operative online resources.

Project, drawing on primary evidence from one of the excavated cities of Mesopotamia - 70%

Oral presentation - 30%

 

Written feedback - Students will receive summative and formative feedback on their written coursework.

Oral feedback - Lectures and tutorials are a place for directed discussion and thus provide verbal formative feedback on the development and presentation of argument and interpretation on a weekly basis. In advance of submitting written coursework, students are encouraged to discuss their plans with the course convenor who will provide formative feedback. 

Algaze, G. 2008. Ancient Mesopotamia at the Dawn of Civilization: The Evolution of an Urban Landscape. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

Altaweel, M., & Squitieri, A. 2018. Revolutionizing a World: From Small States to Universalism in the Pre-Islamic Near East. London: UCL Press.

Matthews, R. 2003. The Archaeology of Mesopotamia. Theories and Approaches. London: Routledge.

Melman, B. 2020. Empires of Antiquities: Modernity and the Rediscovery of the Ancient Near East, 1914-1950. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Mieroop, M. van de. 1999. The Ancient Mesopotamian city. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Pollock, S. 1999. Ancient Mesopotamia: The Eden that Never Was. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Potts, D.T. 1997. Mesopotamian Civilization: The Material Foundations. London: Athlone Press.

Radner, K., & Robson, E. (2011). The Oxford handbook of cuneiform culture. Oxford University Press.

Storey, G.R. 2020. The Archaeology of Ancient Cities. New York: Eliot Werner.

Yoffee, N. (2005). Myths of the archaic state: Evolution of the earliest cities, states, and civilizations. Cambridge University Press.

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £29,200 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.

Learn more about student finance options for UK students .

Learn more about fees and finance for international students .

As an international student you may be eligible for our Global Futures Scholarships . This is open to students starting their studies in September 2026.