Archaeology & Palaeoecology - Research

Overview
By joining Archaeology & Palaeoecology you will become part of a dynamic group of researchers in one of two interdisciplinary Research Clusters: Environmental Change & Resilience (ECR) for more environmentally-related projects, and Culture & Society (C&S) for more humanities-related Archaeology projects.

Projects involving Palaeoecology or Scientific Archaeology focus on themes such as long-term changes and resilience in ecosystems, humans, environments and climate, using approaches such as pollen analysis, tephra dating, dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating. Much of our research spans several disciplines – for example projects on the hydrogeology and restoration of bogs.

Research in the C&S cluster explores the material manifestations of culture through time and space. We combine innovative scientific methods with theoretically-informed analyses to understand past human experience, bringing together the humanities and the sciences.

The combination of environmental archaeology, and especially bio-archaeology, with more traditional approaches to the past, helps to differentiate Queen's from most other Archaeology departments and is seen as both a strength and stimulus to future developments.

Subject Summary
As a member of the Society & Culture Research Cluster you will join a thriving research community that explores the material manifestations of culture through time and space, focusing particularly on the development of agriculture, domestic and ritual space; populations and palaeodiet from Ireland to Eurasia; religion, society and material culture in the ancient Mediterranean, prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval Ireland; Irish connections with the New World, and social and bio-archaeological approaches to death. As a member of the Environmental Change & Resilience Research Cluster you will join a vibrant palaeoecology research group studying past environment and climate change, using a variety of records from around the world. Our research focuses on how Earth’'s environments have changed, or are changing, over a range of timescales, and covers carbon dynamics and climate change, geoforensics, geographical information studies and geostatistics, glacial and periglacial landscapes, human-environment interactions, climate and environmental change, and scientific dating and chronological techniques.

Course structure
An MPhil is awarded for original research in a topic chosen by the student. MPhil studies may be undertaken on a full (2 years) or part-time (4 years) basis. To complete with an MPhil qualification you will be required to submit a thesis of no more than 50,000 words.

This independent research is complemented by postgraduate skills training organised by Queen’s Graduate School, and other internal and external training courses organised through your supervisor.

Full time students are often attracted to research degree programmes because they offer an opportunity to pursue in some depth an area of academic interest.

The part time route is a suitable option for those unable to study for an MPhil full time. This may be due to family commitments or those already in employment. On the former, studying part time for an MPhil can be very accommodating in juggling different responsibilities. On the latter, part time candidates often choose to research an area that is related to their professional responsibilities.

Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

MPhil studies may be undertaken on a full (2 years) or part-time (4 years) basis.

Entry Year: 2024/25

Many of our MPhil alumni have moved into academic and research roles in Higher Education while others go on to play leading roles in educational practice, the public sector or within NGO’s. For further information on career opportunities at MPhil level please contact the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Student Recruitment Team on askEPS@qub.ac.uk. Our advisors – in consultation with the School – will be happy to provide further information on your research area, possible career prospects and your research application.

Research information

Associated Research
Members of the C&S and ECR research clusters work closely to develop research that takes into consideration both the social and environmental context of human society (see also Geography and Palaeoecology: Environmental Change). Integrated within C&S is the Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork, a financially self-supporting excavation unit with an exceptional record of publication and a high media profile, reflecting a strong commitment to community engagement.
The cluster undertakes research in Ireland, Great Britain and abroad, in particular, the Mediterranean region, territories of the former Soviet Union, the North Atlantic, west Africa and North America, where both staff and research students undertake collaborative projects.
Being based in the recently built 14CHRONO Centre has expanded our research facilities and allowed us to extend our research agenda.

Facilities include an AMS 14C dating facility, an NEC accelerator mass spectrometer, cold storage for biological materials, drawing office, laboratories for post-excavation, human bone analysis, palynology, plant, snail and insect macrofossils, dendrochronology and animal bone analysis.
Students maintain their own research seminar series and attend the fortnightly seminars of the Archaeology and Palaeoecology research clusters, which routinely bring outstanding scholars from abroad as well as Great Britain and Ireland.
Current postgraduates come from Ireland, Great Britain, the USA, France, and the Netherlands.