Archaeology and Classics (Nottingham)

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Facilities

The Department of Archaeology has a wide range of dedicated research and teaching facilities available for use by students.
IT Facilities

The University provides its students with access to general IT facilities through a number of IS computer rooms/areas which are conveniently located around the University campuses in libraries and other IS resource centres. They:

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are open to all members of the University,
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contain PC workstations and usually at least one laser printer,
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are connected to the University’s data network

Many computer rooms are open 24/7 (with a short closed period for cleaning). Larger computer rooms/areas also have laptop plug-in points and wireless access.
Drawing Office

Archaeological illustration is an important part of our undergraduate degree and all second-year students undertake portfolio modules in which they are trained in the techniques of recording artefacts and excavations.

Teaching takes place in the newly refurbished drawing office which has recently been equipped with a state-of-the-art wide format scanner and wide format printer. This equipment has been purchased with support from the University's Visual Learning Lab Fund for use by students, who are encouraged to use this digital technology to enhance their assignments and research.
Showing Seeing Centre

Becoming familiar with the visual aspects of the past is an essential part of studying archaeology and classics. The Showing Seeing Centre in the Archaeology and Classics departments houses equipment provided by the Visual Learning Lab and offers a stimulating environment in which to learn. It is located in three rooms throughout the Archaeology and Classics Building on University Park Campus, and it gives you access to a wide range of tools to create, modify and assess visual material. More information about the Showing Seeing Centre.
The University Museum

Another benefit for our students studying archaeology at Nottingham is the University Museum which is located in the same building as the Department of Archaeology. The museum has been superbly rebuilt and reorganised and a professional museum curator is responsible for updating the museum archives and setting up new displays. The museum is also a centre for research, notably a current programme researching our world famous Oswald Collection of Samian pottery (luxury Roman tableware). It also provides a unique opportunity for teaching and introducing students to the study of ancient finds, from the Stone Age down to the late medieval period. Find out more about the University Museum.
Bioarchaeology Laboratories

The Department has two new bioarchaeology laboratories; one for teaching, the other for research. Both are equipped with archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological reference collections and there is a growing off-print library housed in the larger teaching lab.

The bioarchaeological laboratories are equipped with low-power microscopes and a flotation machine (for the extraction of botanical remains from archaeological deposits). High-power microscopes are available in the Microscope Laboratory, which may be used for research areas including charcoal analysis.
Archaeological Materials Laboratory

The Department has a dedicated archaeological materials laboratory that is used for research, teaching, and other practical exercises, and provides ample space for laying out archaeological specimens. The principal focus of research in the laboratory is the scientific analysis of ancient inorganic materials, particularly metals, ceramics and glass. The laboratory includes a high-temperature furnace used for experimental reconstructions of ancient pyrotechnology, as well as a fume hood and materials for the preparation of mounted specimens for microscope and microprobe analysis.
Microscope Laboratory

The departmental microscope laboratory is used for research and teaching of both archaeological materials and bioarchaeology. This facility has received much recent investment and the equipment currently available includes:

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Olympus BX51 reflected and transmitted light microscope, including attachments for polarisation to study ceramic thin-sections
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Olympus BX41 transmitted light microscope
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Olympus SZX10 stereo zoom microscope
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Reichert inverted stage metallurgical microscope
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Colourview I 3.2 Megapixel colour digital camera which attaches to the above microscopes.
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Computer with extra-large screen and specialised software for digital image viewing, capture and analysis

Electron Microprobe Laboratory

This laboratory houses the departmental JEOL JXA-8200 electron microprobe. This facility is used both to support research within the Department and as a central teaching resource for students learning about archaeological materials. Many of our recent Archaeological Materials (MA/MSc) students have used the electron microprobe for their dissertation research, and there is a growing PhD research group for whom the electron microprobe is central to their studies.