Archaeology

Archaeology explores people and their culture through material objects, including for example artefacts, solid constructions, or noticeablechanges in the soil caused by human activities. Archaeology is multidisciplinary by nature. It has traditionally had many interests in common with natural sciences, especially when it comes to research methods. Nevertheless, archaeology is a humanistic science considering its phrasing of questions. The aim of archaeological research is to understand and explain culture and its change. An archaeologist is an expert on material culture, as well as on research and conservation. He/she cooperates with users of land, experts on zoning, and with the authorities that are responsible of conservation of the environment. The protection of the archaeological cultural heritage is a part of environmental protection, and the ethical goal of an archaeologist is to conserve as much of the past as possible to the future.

In the archaeology studies the prehistory of Finland and other continents is examined from an anthropological point of view. The focus is on the prehistory of Northern Finland and other northern areas as part of global prehistory. In addition to the mastery over basic material, the ability to understand universal cultural processes as well as the techniques of handling source material is emphasized. A central aim of the studies is to gain the ability to do archaeological research independently; gathering observational data, conducting analysis, making interpretations, and presenting the findings in written form. The division of archaeology has exchange programs with several foreign universities, which makes it easy for students to study abroad for short periods of time.

In addition to book exams, students can also complete courses using other compensatory methods, such as home exams, posters or other written tasks. A student has to agree on these alternative ways of conducting a course individually with the teacher who is responsible for the study unit.

Minor subjects that support archaeology studies are for example anthropology, classical archaeology, history, Finnish and Scandinavian history, art history, museology, geology, geography, biology, and environmental protection.

Current archaeological research projects at the Oulu University:

Human-animal relationships among Finland's Sámi 1000-1800 AD: DNA and stable isotope analyses of bones from ritual sites

Towns, borders and material culture – the effects of modernisation and globalisation in the Northern Finnish towns and their hinterlands since the c. 17th century

The body size, body shape and skeletal robusticity of Post-Pleistocene Europeans