Archaeology
Welcome to the Archaeology subject guide - your guide to using the library resources, services and facilities for your subject.
Search Library Resources
Use DiscoverEd to search the Library's collections and find books, ebooks, ejournal articles and more. Use your University Login to sign into your account and manage loans, requests and fines.
Key databases for Archaeology
- ADS Library (incorporates British and Irish Archaeological Bibliography)The ADS Library brings together material from the British and Irish Archaeological Bibliography (BIAB), the ADS library of unpublished fieldwork reports as well as documents from the ADS archives and archaeological publishers such as Oxbow.
- Archaeopress Digital Subscription ServiceE-books and e-journals in archaeology. Around 10-15 new books are added each month. Subscribed e-books and e-journals will be listed on DiscoverEd. The site often works better if you access the individual e-book and e-journal titles via DiscoverEd. Open access e-books are also available.
- Arts & Humanities Citation IndexPart of Web of Science Core Collection. A multidisciplinary index containing details of every substantive item in 1,200 arts and humanities journals, as well as references to books included in book reviews, and live performances, films, records, and television and radio broadcasts. Contains over 2 million references.
- Bibliography of British and Irish HistoryThe Bibliography of British and Irish History provides bibliographic data on historical writing dealing with the British Isles, and with the British Empire and Commonwealth, during all periods for which written documentation is available - from 55BC to the present. It is the successor to the Royal Historical Society Bibliography of British and Irish History, available online from 2002 to 2009.
- Online Egyptological Bibliography (OEB)The Online Egyptological Bibliography (OEB) holds the largest available collection of references in Egyptological literature. It includes the volumes of the Annual Egyptological Bibliography (AEB) for 1947 to 2001 with abstracts, combined with Bibliographie Altägypten (BA) for 1822 to 1946, the Aigyptos database with keywords, and many thousands of more recently added records. It provides coverage of Egyptological literature from 1822 to the present and is updated nearly every day.
Cultural and heritage collections
The Centre for Research Collections (CRC) is the main space for anyone using the University of Edinburgh's historic, cultural and heritage collections, including rare books and manuscripts, University of Edinburgh archives, personal and institutional archives, Lothian Health Services Archives (LHSA), University of Edinburgh PhD theses, art collection, musical instrument collection and a wide range of other museum objects from geological specimens to anatomical models.
- 400,000 rare books
- Over 6km of manuscripts and archives
- Around 200,000 artefacts, works of art, potted material, models, specimens, musical instruments and scientific apparatus
- Over 40,000 digital images
- Around 25,000 PhD theses available digitally
The CRC are based on the 6th floor, Main Library.
Image on right is from G Perrot, A History of Art in Chaldaea and Assyria, vol. 2, 1884. Abercromby Collection. © University of Edinburgh.
The Gordon Childe Archaeology Collection is housed within the School of History, Classics and Archaeology (William Robertson Wing, Old Medical School) and was founded by Vere Gordon Childe in 1927, when he became the first Abercromby professor of prehistoric archaeology. This collection contains c. 5000 archaeological artefacts from various periods and regions across Europe, the Mediterranean, Egypt, the Near East and India, including textile fragments from Neolithic Swiss Lake villages, in addition to ethnographic items.
Early Neolithic ground stone axe (Mid 4th Century BC). © University of Edinburgh
- National Museums Scotland collections databaseThe NMS online database contains a selection of the 12 million objects and specimens in our collections. New records are added regularly.
- National Museums Scotland librariesNational Museums Scotland has the largest museum library collection in Scotland. Their library services support the research and learning needs of Museum staff, visitors and the wider external research community.
- National Library of ScotlandThe National Library of Scotland is Scotland's largest library and the world centre for the study of Scotland and the Scots. One of five legal deposit libraries in the UK it is also one of the major research libraries in Europe and their collections range from rare historical documents to online journals, covering every subject.
- Museums & Galleries EdinburghMuseums & Galleries Edinburgh is a collection of 13 venues and over 200 monuments across Edinburgh. Their vision is to inspire, enthuse and provoke through a shared passion for Edinburgh, Art and History.
- Edinburgh LibrariesPublic library service in Edinburgh. With the Central Library on George IV Bridge, 27 community libraries, mobile library and digital library.
- National Records of ScotlandNational Records of Scotland (NRS) is a Non-Ministerial Department of the Scottish Government. Their purpose is to collect, preserve and produce information about Scotland's people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations.
- Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh HeritageRCPE holds one of the largest medical history collections in the world and they work to share this heritage worldwide.
- Surgeons' Hall MuseumsSurgeons' Hall Museums (SHM) are owned by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and consist of the Wohl Pathology Museum, the History of Surgery Museum and The Dental Collection.
Main Library
The Main Library holds the majority of books for Archaeology. Most of these books are on the 2nd floor or in the HUB Collection on the ground floor.
Watch the student-led tour of the Main Library to help you get your bearings and discover the resources, services and facilities on offer.
- Main Library - orientation guideThis guide will help you to find the Main Library, and to navigate its services and collections.
Resource Lists
Find your course reading lists via Resource Lists. Type in your course code or keywords from the course title, or your lecturer's name.
Please note that not all courses at the University use Resource Lists.
Exam Papers
Exam Papers Online provides access to the collected degree examination papers of the University from 2004 onwards. They may be used by students as a study aid only.
Your Academic Support Librarian
3 Lady Lawson Street
Edinburgh EH3 9DR
Online learning
The Library provides access to 100s of 1000s of online resources, including e-books, e-journals and online databases, but we also provide lots of other services and support for students on online learning programmes.