| The following information was compiled following conversations with several people who hold positions relating to archaeology and similar scientific pursuits. |
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"A job in the archaeology field is similar in many ways to any career in the sciences where your work is affiliated with a university. I will tell you about archaeology, but what I say could equally well apply to being an anthropologist, a marine biologist, or even a mathematician. Being an archaeologist means that you are interested about finding out all you can about ancient artifacts. The first step must be to go to school as long as you need to, to find out everything that has been learned in your area, and to obtain other skills necessary for the job. This means four years to get a BSc degree, then several more for your Masters degree, and then a few more to obtain your PhD! By that time, you're in debt up to your eyebrows, and you're just starting to learn something about your subject! Since being an archaeologist means you are passionately interested in finding old artifacts and learning about them, you must work for a university, since that's where the search for scientific knowledge goes on. Someone has to pay for your research (trips to archaeological digs can be expensive!) Generally what happens is that the university hires you to teach, and will fund your projects as long as you can demonstrate that you will be learning something valuable. This may also mean searching for sponsors to help with the financing, depending on what it is you are researching. If you're digging up an old settlement from early Alberta history, it may not be too expensive. But a six month expedition to Egypt to unearth a 2000 year old tomb can run into a lot of money! Someone who is interested in becoming an archaeologist should already be preparing. You'll need good marks to get into university, and you'll have to keep them up. You should be avidly interested in the subject, and reading about it. Skills in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics are probably necessary, as is a love of the outdoors. (You'll spend a lot of time crawling around in the dirt with a brush or shovel). Finally, you will need to be someone who is meticulous about details, since scientific inquiries require thorough recording of what you found. The pay isn't great, at least to start. You'll be lucky to survive your PhD without half starving, unless you like Kraft Dinners. After that, if you can become an Associate, Assistant, and eventually Full Professor at a university, the pay is pretty good, but of course you'll have to do some university teaching as well." |