Archaeology: Archaeology of East and Southeast Asia

This is a specialisation of the master’s programme of Archaeology.

Leiden is internationally renowned for its Asian studies and material collections. It is the only university in the Netherlands that offers bachelors and masters programmes specialised in China, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. The master’s specialisation Archaeology of Asia combines the study of material culture with theoretical approaches. Students study the formative processes that shaped the Asian past, and reflect on the current state and character of Asian archaeological practice.

East Asian archaeology research (China, Korea and Japan) has a special focus on pre- and proto-history. Archaeology of South and Southeast Asia, (e.g. the Indian subcontinent, Indonesia and Cambodia) specialises in trade and cultural contacts and material expressions of the major states, particularly religious architecture and iconography. Regional specialisation in two major regions is possible. Museum internships can be explored as opportunities for more in-depth study of the material culture.

Staff: Dr. Ilona Bausch.