The research projects mainly deal with the protohistoric and historic periods, but also with the study of prehistoric periods in the Mediterranean and the Near East. The whole group focuses its teaching and research on the theme of the Archaeology of Town and Country in the Mediterranean Lands and the Near East (including Egypt), which forms the basis for the Research Master courses.

Specialisation

Specialist courses include topics on city life in particular periods and regions, and aspects of rural settlement and cultural aspects where the study of art or architecture is introduced focused on issues of cultural identity, ethnicity and power relations. Environmental Archaeology and Economic Archaeology are regularly featured.

Courses and training abroad

The courses relate to staff and PhD research projects, which include the reconstruction of ancient settlement systems and urban plans in many countries of the Mediterranean and Near East, the study of imperial cultures and the long-term development of societies. Research Master students are encouraged to spend part of their programme at other institutions or on field projects run by teams outside Leiden, to enrich their experience of different research cultures, but the Classical Mediterranean-Near Eastern group also offers opportunities to become involved with Leiden’s field and museum projects which include several regional survey and excavation programmes and training schools abroad.