Archaeology Career
By: Kate Stumpf
What is an archaeologist?
***Note: The information near the pictures relates to the to image displayed.***
What do archaeologists do?
First off, I enjoy learning about our past. This career really focuses on studying how people lived in different cultures, climates and time periods. Also, you can discover objects and form ideas that have never been seen before. This aspect of the career greatly excites me.
Not only that though. I also love sharing information with the public. It would be very fun to see how people react to the findings of a new city or ruin. All in all this is the perfect career for me for numerous reasons.
What experience and skills do you need to become a successful archaeologist?
First off you need language. Often times you may be working in other countries. This is key to understanding you fellow archaeologists field notes as well as living in that country. Knowing multiple languages will also be helpful when studying drawings or messages.
Secondly you need to have a good science base. Chemistry, biology and physics are used when dating an object and operating machines to locate artifacts. After all this is a scientific job!
Math is another big aspect of archeology. It’s used in statistics as well as analyzing objects.
Obviously you need to know about the history of our world. This will help you piece together cities, environments and cultures that we’ve not seen before by comparison.
Make sure you are up to date on all of your grammar and English for you will be writing detailed field reports and maybe even publishing a book to explain your findings.
Finally you will need a lot of common sense and critical thinking skills. They are not going to be textbook answers and you won’t be able to look your subject up on the Internet. Overall, you are going to use all of your schooling and plus some to become a great archaeologist.
What education do I need to acquire to become an archealogist?
There are many different degrees that can get you to become an archeologist depending on how much you want to work and get paid. A bachelor, master, or doctorate degree will all get you a successful career in archaeology. A bachelor degree won't get you analyzing artifacts in the lab, but you will be able to help out for excavations. These jobs are often part-time however, so you may need another job to support you as well. A masters of doctorates degree will allow you to work in museums, study in the labs as well as give speeches on your finds. Phd degrees will open up teaching opportunities in museums and universities as well as all the other work. Most archaeologists study a specific time period or topic such as egyptology at these levels.
What branch of science does archaeology fall under?
What did I find interesting about archaeology?
Picture Citations
- http://www.nmarchaeology.org/assets/images/Pojoaque%20Corridor%20excavation.jpg
- https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQLyzcgCTH4Pr3szdrs0yEcwt74KgB3J6zr0QkYUIzo-TqytMrG5A
- https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6FxIZmtAsGp4g6wJm69WANgaq_pmq36NurZaQAVZBKbSNUUbN
- http://www.ggat.org.uk/news/archive/job/couldthisbu.gif
- http://www.uri.edu/artsci/his/mua/project_journals/wf/images/6-2_fieldBook&Slate.jpg
- http://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/processarch/processarch/images/object_labgeneral.jpg
- http://www.dayofarchaeology.com/museum-archaeology-in-north-hertfordshire/
- https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTRC23nJ-s_pxKrqf8hySZYW
- http://www.zomm.com/blog/news/america-recycles-day-–-recycling-your-electronics-110661/4853saeYF1FMwvjdDyw13MOgNmt
- http://interactive.archaeology.org/
- http://archaeology.about.com/od/india/ig/India-s-Archaeology/Hampi-Ruins--India.--2E.htm
- http://www.world-archaeology.com/news/ancient-language-discovered/
- http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/fossils_ruins/archaeology/
- http://phys.org/news12157.html
- http://robertarood.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/the-pleasures-of-archaeology/
- http://archaeology.unc.edu/Degrees/index.html
- http://www.brad.ac.uk/life-sciences/research/archaeological-sciences/
- http://www.docstoc.com/docs/79413108/ARCHAEOLOGICAL-DATING-TECHNIQUES
- http://www.sodahead.com/fun/did-indiana-jones-make-archaeology-sexy-30-reasons-why-you-should-become-an-archaeologist/question-2150265/?link=ibaf&q=interesting+archaeology
- http://www.thetruthbehindthescenes.org/2010/06/19/pictures-pagan-cult-worship-objects-found-3500-years-old/