Archaeology Personal Statement Example

My ambition to study Archaeology is based on a fascination with the stories of people who cannot tell them - preserving history for the future. What interested me was how we have all evolved in the same way - all having the ability to communicate, all experiencing a myriad of emotions that separate us from animals and all having the same base genetics. Yet we are all so unique. To develop my understanding of our biological adaptation I read The Human Past by Chris Scarre.

I learnt about the application of DNA research that created a revolution in the understanding of modern human origins. However, I found the text was missing links between the social and scientific elements of evolution. Our past is not only information embedded in genes, but a complex mixture of cultures passed down through generations, creating Gods, monsters and beliefs that still have a vast effect on modern society. I wish to develop my understanding of how these identities were formed. I believe in the balance and links between scientific and abstract elements that make us who we are as people - how these flow from the first civilisations into the future.

To discover more, I visited Stonehenge. I focused my visit on burial practices, as this links anthropology and bioarchaeology. I saw how the burial practices seemed cyclical – focusing more on the wheel of life and death than current Western practices. I further explored this topic by visiting Arminghall Henge’s excavation. I was fascinated by the parallels between the sites despite the 1600 years between them. There, Professor Simon Kaner gave a talk on these similarities. He explored how stone monuments were for the dead while wooden ones were for the living. I found that sombre traditions seem to have replaced seasonal ideas of rebirth in the West. This showed me how identity is not a static entity but fluid and adaptable and has changed throughout history.

To explore this idea of where identity comes from and how it evolves, I read Ways of Being Roman by Louise Revell. Revell wrote about the intersectionality of identity throughout history and how past Archaeologists made the error of assuming that identity is timeless; that the past can be compared with present social constructs. What captivated me was her description of how critical research is needed to fight the notion that past social structures are familiar to our own but instead need to be disconnected from present ideals to fully understand past identities and cultures.

I recently visited the Aylsham Roman Project to see a working excavation, and I am volunteering on the project next summer to develop first-hand experience before my studies. It will teach me how to identify, manage and categorise artifacts, as well as give me access to Archaeologists who are currently working in the field – all of which will be valuable skills for the study of the subject.

In my current role as an English Tutor, I have developed skills such as planning lessons and the ability to communicate information with students. This taught me the importance of time management and being able to prioritise tasks to meet deadlines. It has also developed my interpersonal skills as well as expanding my critical thinking – which I know are important for both university life and the practice of Archaeology, where Archaeologists are constantly having to evaluate and analyse new evidence.

Archaeology saves the past by coming face to face with it, constantly pushing our understanding forwards through a combination of science, history and a love of the past. This is why I crave to study Archaeology. It brings new modes of thought to delve into the roots of what makes us human. I wish to explore the balance between the scientific and anthropological aspects to understand the development of civilisations. I am hopeful that studying Archaeology at University will give me this opportunity and that this will lead me to a career as an Archaeologist.