Organisation profile
Organisation profile
Archaeology at Edinburgh has a dynamic, internationally recognised research profile. Teaching and research extends across Eurasia, Africa and the Americas, and spans the whole human past from the Stone Age up to the present day. We have particular strengths in European prehistory, Mediterranean archaeology, Egyptology, osteoarchaeology, bioarchaeology, isotope geochemistry, coastal and marine archaeology, and cultural heritage studies. Our research is challenge-led and considers how past data and practice can inform solutions to modern problems such as climate change, health, conflict, infrastructural development, increasing urbanisation and identity building as well as how heritage can create tangible benefits for local communities and marginalised communities.
The research community of teaching staff and postdoctoral researchers are served by state-of-the-art facilities, including laboratories, postgraduate research rooms, post-excavation work space, lecture and seminar rooms, a graphics suite with high-level computing support, and the Vere Gordon Childe Collection of archaeological materials. Financial mechanisms for promoting research include postgraduate scholarships and bursaries and the Abercromby Fund to support travel relating to dissertation research.
Our research is structured around four broad research themes:
- Prehistoric archaeology
- Classical and historical archaeology
- Bioarchaeology
- Archaeological Science
Fingerprint
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Robin Bendrey
- School of History, Classics and Archaeology - Personal Chair of Zooarchaeology and Eurasian Prehistory
- Archaeology
- Centre for Historical Reconstruction Research
Person: Academic: Research Active
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Chiara Bonacchi
- School of History, Classics and Archaeology - Chancellor's Fellow (D1) (ACAD - Lectureships)
- Archaeology
Person: Academic: Research Active
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Hannah Cocks
- School of History, Classics and Archaeology - CHFP Assistant
- Archaeology
Person: Academic: Research Active (Research Assistant)
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Some highlights from 2025: A year in review at the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
Bendrey, R. & Mitchell, P. D., 8 Jun 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
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Le voir et le faire: L'art Celtique comme processus de convocation des formes
Ginoux, N., Olivier, L., Gosden, C., Hoppe, T., Hunter, F., Krausse, D. & Romankiewicz, T., 1 Jun 2026, Expressions artistiques des sociétés des âges du Fer: Actes du 46e colloque international de l’Association française pour l’étude de l’âge du Fer (Aix-en-Provence, 26-28 mai 2022). Olmer, F., Girard, B. & Roure, R. (eds.). AFEAF, Vol. 6. p. 37-51 15 p.Translated title of the contribution :Seeing and doing: Celtic art as a process of assembling forms Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Open AccessFile -
From Lemberg (Lviv) to Graz: Julius Planer von Plann (1827–1881) and the development of anatomical science in central Europe
Pidvalna, U., Antipova, V., Geber, J., Greeff, P., Mateshuk-Vatseba, L. & Hammer, N., Jun 2026, In: Annals of Anatomy. 266, p. 1-6 6 p., 152831.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Activities
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The Multiple Histories of the Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun
Vegh, Z. (Invited speaker) & Rowland, J. (Invited speaker)
4 Aug 2026Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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International Conference of Palaeogenomics
Balakrishnan, K. (Presenter), Bujalska, B. (Contributor), Romaniuk, A. (Advisor), Barton, N. (Contributor), Basell, L. (Contributor), Cooke-Miller, S. (Contributor), Dinnis, R. (Advisor), Herman, J. (Contributor), Jones, A. (Contributor), Parfitt, S. (Advisor), Pickard, C. (Contributor), Stewart, J. (Contributor), Timmons, Z. (Contributor), Damentka, G. (Contributor), Kaźmierkiewicz, A. (Contributor) & Baca, M. (Contributor)
23 Jun 2026 → 26 Jun 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Machine Heritage: controversies in AI-generated meanings and values of the past
Bonacchi, C. (Invited speaker)
12 Feb 2026Activity: Academic talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Prizes
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England’s earliest aristocrats? Mapping migration and diet among Earls Barton’s first burial population
Wright, D. (Principal Investigator), Creighton, O. (Co-investigator) & Leggett, S. (Co-investigator)
1/07/25 → 31/08/26
Project: Awarded Facility Time
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Hybrid technologies in early colonial Mexico: an archaeometric study of ceramics from San Miguel Achiutla
De Groot, B. (Principal Investigator) & Forde, J. (CoPI)
30/06/24 → …
Project: Research
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The Real Palaeodiet – an archaeological perspective on prehistoric diets in Mesolithic and Neolithic Scotland
Pickard, C. (Principal Investigator)
1/03/24 → …
Project: University Awarded Project Funding
Datasets
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Ancient genomes from Bronze Age remains reveal deep diversity and recent adaptive episodes for human oral pathobionts
Jackson, I. (Creator), Woodman, P. (Creator), Dowd, M. (Creator), Fibiger, L. (Creator) & Cassidy, L. M. (Creator), Zenodo, 13 May 2024
Dataset
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Ancient genomes from Bronze Age remains reveal deep diversity and recent adaptive episodes for human oral pathobionts
Jackson, I. (Creator), Woodman, P. (Creator), Dowd, M. (Creator), Fibiger, L. (Creator) & Cassidy, L. M. (Creator), Zenodo, 23 Oct 2023
Dataset
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jessicawitte92/R_FOR_SOCIAL_MEDIA_RESEARCH_IN_CULTURAL_AND_MUSEUM_STUDIES: first release
Bonacchi, C. (Creator) & witte, J. (Creator), Zenodo, 5 Nov 2024
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14041894, https://github.com/jessicawitte92/R_FOR_SOCIAL_MEDIA_RESEARCH_IN_CULTURAL_AND_MUSEUM_STUDIES/tree/doi
Dataset
Press/Media
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Dr Leggett interviewed as part of the multimedia installation for an exhibition at St Giles' Cathedral
6/06/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Belmont Estate and University of Edinburgh deepen historical research
7/03/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Project or Organisational News Item