The Department of Archaeology was originally established in 1965 as a program area within the Department of Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology (P.S.A.). In 1969, the Department was removed from P.S.A. to become an independent unit within the Faculty of Arts. In 1971, it became a full Department. The Department is responsible, through its Chair, for the promotion of research and the development and delivery of programs in the field of Archaeology. The Department is involved in interdisciplinary programs both within the University and with external bodies, including the Institute for Quaternary Research (IQR) and Continuing Studies and Distance Education programs.

The Department is organized administratively into a Chair, Departmental Assistant, and a number of standing committees. The Chair is the chief administrative officer, whose responsibilities include the management of the operational budget; faculty tenure, promotion and salary recommendations; teaching assignments, and representation of the Department to external bodies, including the Faculty, Senate and Board of Governors. The Chair reports directly to the Dean of Arts. The Departmental Assistant is responsible for much of the day-to-day administration and the management of the departmental budget, the scheduling of courses, the provision of liaison with administrative offices, and advising students. The Department also comprises the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, and the Radiocarbon Laboratory. The Museum Curator and Laboratory Manager reports directly to the Chair of the Department, who is the Director of each of these units and is therefore responsible for fiscal, administrative, and academic matters pertaining to them.

The number and composition of departmental committees varied greatly over time. Long-standing committees include Appointments, Graduate Studies, Undergraduate Curriculum, and Tenure. There is also departmental representation on faculty and university committees, including the Faculty of Arts Curriculum committee and the University's Articulation committee. The Department also struck ad hoc committees, such as the Chairman's Search Committee, when required.