The past has many dimensions and there are many routes to it. Archaeology, which deals with material evidence, artefacts, monuments and buildings, is one avenue, while history, traditionally derived from written sources, is another. Through studying the history and archaeology of Wales (and the archaeology of Britain and Ireland) as the main core of this degree, you will gain an understanding of the development of Wales over the centuries, of the changing nature of society and settlement and of the historical context of contemporary Wales. The history element of this programme aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of Welsh history. It encourages an analytical approach to the past, so you may understand and contribute to historical controversies. It therefore hopes to train you intellectually so you can explain the relevance of the past in the present, can understand the problems of interpreting written and other evidence, and have skills of research, analysis, problemsolving, construction of argument and communication. By concentrating upon the history of Wales, it also hopes to give you a sensitivity to the Welsh past, so that you may, if you wish, make a contribution to the wider cultural life of the Welsh nation. By including archaeological alongside historical study, the scheme enables you to appreciate the differing and related contributions that material culture, landscape and documentary evidence offer to our understanding of past societies and social change. There is a focus on the archaeology of Wales in the course, though Britain, Ireland and Europe are also well covered. An increasing practical element enables you to gain skills in data collection and analysis. Many of the modules on offer take advantage of the proximity to Bangor of numerous important archaeological sites and landscapes. Graduates of this scheme enter a wide range of employment: especially fields which require skills of communication, analysing large quantities of information, and understanding human nature and material culture. These include teaching, the heritage industry, management and administration, librarianship, accountancy, law, and retail. Many graduates enter higher education schemes - especially masters degrees in archaeology.