Archaeology at the University of Hong Kong

Archaeology is the systematic study of the human past through material remains left behind by ancient societies. Our discipline investigates a rich spectrum of physical evidence, ranging from everyday traces of former life — pottery, tools, animal bones, architectural features and whole‑scale landscapes — to wider social, economic, and political patterns. Archaeology is uniquely suited to help us understand many different aspects of past life, including exposing non-elite stories and examining the past over long durations.

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Archaeological research relies on global‑reaching fieldwork, including hands‑on excavations and surface surveys, to recover evidence of past human activity. Rooted in an academic tradition emerging in Southwest Asia in the 19th century, archaeology has since expanded across every continent. Today, it remains a dynamic field, with many theoretical debates and advancements in methods, including a fast‑growing adoption of digital tools and data‑driven techniques to capture, analyze and share archaeological information. Archaeology is a highly interdisciplinary field, with close interactions with other academic fields of study such as Engineering, the Natural Sciences, and Anthropology.

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As cultural heritage sites worldwide face mounting threats from economic development and climate change, the need for trained archaeological professionals has never been greater. Taught within the HKU Faculty of Arts, archaeology equips students with robust practical and intellectual capabilities for advanced research, field‑based investigation, heritage policy‑making, and public education.  Our graduates help play vital roles in understanding, safeguarding and interpreting humanity’s shared cultural legacy. Currently HKU offers undergraduate elective courses in archaeology (using the ARCL course code), including a fieldschool abroad, as well as a research post-graduate (rpg) program for MPhil and PhD students. Please explore this website for more details.

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