LEIDEN UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARCHAEOLOGY

Writing a thesis
Source: Syllabus Archeologische Rapportage
L. P. Louwe Kooijmans, August 2002
Translated/ Summarized: E. Kaptijn, May 2006
Adjusted / resturctured : H. Fokkens, November 2007

1 Technical aspects
The thesis has, like a book, a particular structure which is consistent with
general publication standards. This structure defines in what following order
particular elements of the thesis should be presented and to which standards
they should answer. A normal structure would be (optional elements are
noted in italics) divided into three parts:

Preliminary part
Cover
Title page
Contents
Preface / acknowledgements
Body part
Problem orientation and research questions
Main text (discussion of the data)
Conclusions
Abstract
Closing part
Endnotes
Bibliography / references
Appendices
Justification of figures, etc
Separate maps
Note that the technical aspects of the thesis always need to be sufficient.

1.1 Preliminary part

1.1.1 Cover and binding

The cover may contain the same information as the title page, but also less.
However, make sure that both texts are the same. Use thicker paper (>120
gramm) covered with plastic. Make the cover appealing through the use of
colour and/or a relevant image. Note: account for this image either on the
back of the cover or inside. The cover does contain the title, possibly a
subtitle and the name of the author (not the other administrative data, they
are registered on the title page).
As all theses will be filed in the library, the binding should be as compact as
possible. Therefore the final version should be submitted as a lumbecked

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report. Lumbecken is a process of gluing the backside of a book without

sewing it with thread (called after the German Emil Lumbeck who invented
the rocess in 1936), it is done in every copyshop.

1.1.2 Title page

The title page describes your title and should therefore be both complete and
correct. For the thesis there are no strict rules, but apart from the title and a
possible subtitle it should at least include the following administrative data:
Name student (author)
Student number
Name supervisor(s)
Section
Place and date (year/ month)

Address, email and telephone should not be on the title page, but may be on
the back. Do not use figures on the title page.

A title should be short but also delineate the subject completely and
correctly. It should therefore mention:
Period, dates, culture
Geography, region, location
Material category, theme

e.g.: The Rhine Meuse Delta

Four studies on its prehistoric occupation and Holocene geology

1.1.3 Contents:
The content, including page numbers, start immediately after the title page
and stand preferably on the page on the right (if printed on both sides). Use
a single font. All chapters get a serial number, except for preface,
acknowledgments, bibliography, etc. Contents should be orderly and easy to
understand immediately.

1.1.4 Preface/ acknowledgements:

A preface is not compulsory. A description of how the work came into being
or gratitude to certain people can be mentioned in the preface. When many
people need to be thanked, separate acknowledgements may be better
suited.

1.2 Body part

1.2.1 Problem orientation and research questions

The first chapters generally contain:

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The motive for the research or problem orientation (why are you going
to do your research?). Generally this includes a survey of previous
research, its results and possibly what is still lacking, because that is
the niche in which you probably will position your research.
Aims and research questions (what are you going to research?). Which
of the questions that have remained unanswered are you going to
study in your thesis.
Methodology and theories used (how are you going to use the data to
answer your questions?). What is theoretical background to your study
and which data are you going to use. Generally this is also the point
where you position the different chapters. Be careful of your wording
and keep an argument going, do not give a mere enumeration of the
chapters you are going to write, but also why you are going to write
them.

1.2.2 Main text

These topics are quite diverse and can be made into separate chapter if one
of the topics is significantly larger; e.g. a description of the methodologies
used in a survey.

1.2.3 Conclusion:
This is the last chapter. It should describe to what extend the aims have
been fulfilled, and the questions are answered. The conclusion refers back to
the introduction. First, aims and research questions should be shortly
restated. Secondly, the methodology is reviewed, focussing on its success
and/ or shortcomings. Finally the results are discussed, again with an
evaluation. Usually, research generates new questions. The conclusion
therefore often contains ideas for subsequent research.

1.2.4 Abstract
An abstract is written for people who quickly want to get an idea of contents
of your research without reading everything. An abstract should therefore be
short; a thesis of a 100 pages should be reflected in your abstract. The
abstract can be in the same language, but may (additionally) also be in other
relevant languages like Dutch, German, French or Spanish. An abstract may
be placed at the beginning or end of the thesis.

1.3 Closing part

1.3.1 Endnotes
Whether you use foot- or endnotes is a matter of personal preference and of
conventions in fields of study and in journals.

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1.3.2 Bibliography / reference

There is no standard style. If no standard is given by the specialisation in
which you work: use the format indicated in Appendix 1 (guidelines for
contributors). For the Archaeology of Northwestern Europe: use the
instructions for contributors of the Cambridge Archaeological Journal. This
format is also available as a style in the Endnote program (software) that is
recommended for storing your references.

1.3.3 Appendices
Appendices are used to present descriptive parts of the text, inventories etc.
In style they are similar to the normal text.

1.3.4 Justification of figures, etc

Each figure that has not been made by the author him/herself will have to be
referenced. Normally this is done on the captions, but one can also choose
for a list in the closing part of the book or thesis.In books a justification of
figures can be left to the end of the book. In theses each figure needs to
Separate maps

2 Figures and tables

There are two types of figures and tables: documentation and text figures.
Documentation is located at the end of the publication, often in appendices or
a separate volume. It consists of maps, object drawings or photographs,
lists. Text figures support or illustrate your argument in the text. Tables can
for example summarize/ visualize your text in an orderly but detailed
fashion. Lists of sites are part of the documentation, but maps showing the
location of sites are text figures.
All figures, tables, plates and appendices get a serial number, either for the
thesis as a whole or per chapter. So: Fig. 1-32, Table 1-12, Appendix 1-4 can
all be part of the same thesis. All fig./tables/ etc get a caption that should
include all information to understand it independently.
If figures from other publications are used, the original publication
(author + year) should be given and the publication is incorporated in the
bibliography. Of objects is given the: site, find no./ museum (inventory) no.,
material category and scale. Topographic plans/ layouts have a scale, an
indication of the North, and a reference to the general map. Tables and
diagrams show: what data are shown, what the numbers represent (%, N,
MNI). Avoid misleading preciseness by giving to many decimals or % for low
numbers.

Try to visualize the central idea of your thesis in a flow chart, graphic
framework. It shows that you have mastered the subject and it allows your
readers to see the whole problem in a nutshell.

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 LEIDEN UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARCHAEOLOGY

3 Typography
Use only one font. Create the necessary distinctions by variation in size,
bold, italic, and when necessary SMALL CAPITALS for different levels in your
text. This document can be taken as an example. For the main text a serif
font is most suitable, like Times New Roman.

This is the Times new Roman, an 11 point letter is most common, with a line distance of 1,1

4 Useful references
Paul Oliver 2004: Writing your thesis, London: Sage publications

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 LEIDEN UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARCHAEOLOGY

Appendix 1: guidelines for referencing

In general: if you hesitate, refer to Analecta Praehistorica Leidensia (2000 or
later) for reference.

Referencing in the text, not in footnotes, as much as possible with

pages.
(Kubach 1977; Srensen 1987, 12; Warmenbol 1996, 14; 2003, 35)

List of references format:

Journal article
Pauli, L. 1985. Einige Bemerkungen zum Problem der Hortfunde,
Archologisches Korrespondenzblatt 15, 195-206
Book in series
Pare, C.F.E. 1992. Wagons and wagon graves of the Early Iron Age in
Central Europe, Oxford: Oxford University Press (=Oxford University
Committee for Archaeology Monograph 35).
Chapter in an edited volume
Piggot, S. 1963. Abercromby and after. The Beaker Cultures of Britain
re-examined. In: L. Foster and L. Alcock (eds), Culture and
environment. Essay in honour of Sir Cyril Fox, London: Batsford, 53-
91.
Edited volume
Miller, D. and C. Tilley (eds), Ideology, Power and Prehistory, Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press (New directions in archaeology).
Unpublished thesis
Reybrouck, D. van 2000. From primitives to primates. A history of
ethnographic and primatological analogies in the study of prehistory,
Leiden (unpublished Ph.D. thesis University of Leiden).

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