Graduate Studies in Anthropology at Western

Archaeology & Bioarchaeology
(MA & PhD)

The Archaeology and Bioarchaeology
stream at Western incorporates the two sub-disciplines of archaeology and biological anthropology. Graduate study in these areas takes place within the context of the active research programs of our faculty, which includes a Canada Research Chair in Bioarchaeology and Isotopic Anthropology, a Faculty Scholar, and the Lawson Chair in Canadian Archaeology. Our faculty members undertake research in various parts of the world, including Egypt, Europe, Peru, Mesoamerica and North America, particularly the Arctic and Ontario. Although the theoretical training is predominantly anthropological, students will also learn broader theoretical perspectives through their interactions in other programs and will gain valuable hands-on experience with our broad range of analytic equipment.

Archaeology is the study of cultures of the past by means of the recovery and analysis of material remains. Faculty research in this area includes the peopling of the New World, the prehistoric and historic archaeology of Ontario, complex civilizations in Peru, the integration of GIS with archaeology, textile analysis, lithic analysis, faunal archaeology and hunter gatherer ecology.

Here at Western, we define Bioarchaeology broadly, as the study of the intersection of biological, environmental and cultural systems as they existed in the human past. Bioarchaeology has been identified as an area of excellence in the Social Science Faculty at Western. A major focus of study has been skeletal biology and we have more researchers focused on that area than many other departments in North America. Faculty research in Bioarchaeology includes paleogenetics, skeletal biology including osteoarchaeology and paleopathology, isotopic anthropology, human evolution, paleoradiology and mummy studies.

Students graduating with a master’s degree from our Archaeology and Bioarchaeology stream have had outstanding success in PhD programs across North America, the UK and New Zealand. Graduates of the program are employable not only in the more traditional jobs found in universities, museums, contract and government archaeology offices, but also in private, community and government labs, and government organizations.

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