Our undergraduate program (in Hebrew) provides students with basic knowledge of ancient societies and the material culture of the Land of Israel, the Levant and the Mediterranean Basin. Students who wish to do so are trained in archaeological fieldwork and laboratory work. Our graduates work in archaeological research and applied work in the Israel Antiquities Authority, archaeological museums, schools, the tourism industry and in the field of conservation.

A wide range of subjects can be studied in the department, corresponding to the academic staff’s various specializations. The ancient material culture of the Land of Israel in particular and the Mediterranean Basin in general are taught by focusing on two connected themes. The first is chronological, in which the prehistoric periods (from the Paleolithic to the Chalcolithic periods), the Biblical periods (Bronze and Iron Ages), Greek and Roman cultures (from the Hellenistic to the Roman and Byzantine periods), and the medieval world from its inception in the Muslim occupation of the region to the days of the Crusader kingdoms are studied. The archeology of ancient China is also taught, as are other global case-studies. Second, we emphasize state-of-the-art research methods in archaeology, using numerous fields to understanding the past. These include architecture and art, the study of ancient artifacts, materials and technologies, archaeozoology, geoarchaeology, methods for environmental reconstruction, radiometric dating and digital mapping.

Each student starts as a double-department degree (archaeology and another department). Outstanding students may transfer to a single-department degree in archaeology during their second year. The standard time for the BA studies is three years (6 semesters). We offer several special programs, such as a shortened BA program for licensed tour guides and an integrated degree with the Digital Humanities track. Students may also take a more “professional” degree, with specialized courses in field archaeology and artifact analysis, or lean towards the theoretical aspects of the field. The former track is needed to students who wish to graduate with an “excavator certificate”, which is required for working as a field archaeologist, specifically in the Israel Antiquities Authority.


For more details, please contact the department office: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Sunday through Thursday: +972-4-8240234