The Department was established in 1997 with an intention to offer post-graduate teaching and research facilities in Archaeology. It was formally inaugurated in 1998 as part of the Diamond Jubilee Year Celebrations of the University of Kerala by the then Hon. Minister for Food Tourism and Law, Govt. of Kerala Shri E. Chandrasekharan Nair with then Vice-Chancellor Dr. N. Babu presiding over the function. The department is currently being headed by Dr. Preeta Nayar.