JUSTIFICATION
Archeology The Portuguese have a long way already, though little uniform, more than a century of research, over which projected in the national and international importance of our cultural heritage. From the 70′s, thanks to its development as a specific subject area, along with a renewed openness to the international scientific environment, the Archeology has set up additional complexities and theoretical techniques, depending on addition of other disciplines that have be designated as “auxiliary sciences”. Meanwhile, in the 90s, and the establishment of the IPA, disseminates to professional archeology, related mitigation measures and safeguards, which is now the predominant means of survival of an overwhelming most archaeologists. Since then, in the course of its business the archaeologist is to intervene in any chronological and cultural contexts, being obliged to meet the scientific and technical demands that each situation requires, and therefore facing situations of great social responsibility.

Are the recent graduates in archeology, which were preceded by degrees during off time in history, archeology variant. Although the first note is a substantial increase in archaeological practice, it is clear the flow of technical information and practical adequacy of a broad spectrum of graduates in Archeology who are entered in the professional practice and research. It is, therefore, additional training that the professional archaeologist and researcher to a specific training appropriate to their operational needs, and taught by experts from various disciplines, which is in this way.

RECIPIENTS
Natural recipients are graduates of the course in Archeology and, in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 17th of the Decree-Law No 74/2006 of 24 March, to apply for the course of study leading to the degree of master:
a) Holders of the licenciado degree or legal equivalent;
b) Holders of a foreign academic degree conferred higher following a 1st cycle of studies organized according to the principles of the Bologna Process by a State acceding to this process;
c) Holders of a degree higher than abroad that is recognized as meeting the objectives of the licenciado degree by the statutorily competent scientific body of the institution of higher education which wish to be admitted;
d) holders of a school curriculum, scientific or professional, that is recognized as attesting the capacity to achieve this cycle of studies by the statutorily competent scientific body of the institution of higher education which wish to be admitted.

As provided for in paragraph 3 of Article 17 of Decree-Law above “The recognition referred to in b) d) of paragraph 1 has the effect only access to the course of study leading to the degree of master and not gives the holder the equivalence to the licenciado degree or the degree of recognition. “

Archaeology involves the excavation and dating of findings, such as rock carvings, church ruins, grave-mounds, iron-producing plants, ports and ship wrecks, coins, ceramics, jewellery, weapons tools, glass and textiles. These discoveries are fragments of several precedent cultural societies. Through these findings, our history may be reconstructed. Moreiver, it gives us the opportunity to obtain increased knowledge of life in immediate and distant past.

The bachelor’s programme in Archaeology comprises of archaeological research, excavations, public administration and museum activity. The interaction between theoretical insight and practical work is important in order to provide students with an understanding of the connection between the archaeological research activity and the mundane tasks awaiting archaeologists in several professions within administration and museums, as well as universities and other research institutions.

The programme of study aims to enable students to establish the existence of cultural traces, as well as to obtain knowledge of ancient cultures and societies from physical remnants. This requires thorough knowledge of the source material, and also to the theories and methods employed in the production of archaeological knowledge.

The specialization in Archaeology will provide students with knowledge of the development of societies in both prehistoric and historic past. Special emphasis is placed on regional development in an international perspective. An introduction to archaeological theory and method, including empirical data and field archaeology, will provide the students with an insight into how archaeological knowledge emerges.

The scientists who have carried out individual studies in Turkey since 1960s have been cooperating with archaeologists. In the 1970s, an application was filed to TÜBİTAK for the establishment of a Unit of Archaeometry attached to it and eventually the Unit of Archaeometry was established in 1980. Scientists from METU, Hacettepe, Istanbul, Boğaziçi, Istanbul Technical, Çukurova and Fırat Universities have participated in this Unit. This Unit continued to do research under the name of AKSAY which stands for the “Investigation of Archaeological findings by Spectroscopic and Analytical Methods” in Turkish. This Unit functioned until 1992. Alongside the work of the Unit, there was a need to educate students who would carry out archaeometric studies in the museums and at other research laboratories. As a result of this, METU initiated a Masters Program in Archaeometry as part of the Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences in 1990 with thesis and non-thesis version in 2003. These programs educate bachelors degree holders in all fields.

The main purpose of the program is to qualify the graduates toward bringing solutions to the archaeological problems by the application of scientific methods of natural and applied sciences. The study and understanding of history have acquired a new dimension through the collaboration between pure scientists and archaeologists. Thus, the analysis, identification and dating of archaeological remains and materials have become complete.