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Archaeologists - Preserving the Past

© Deborah Lapoint

Indiana Jones' career may be just a little bit more daring and dramatic than that of most archaeologists, but this fascinating field still offers challenge and satisfaction to those who choose it. No longer are archaeologists found only digging prehistorical sites. This career has expanded to encompass much more. This article will discuss several career directions within the field of archaeology.

• Museum Positions: As museum curators, archaeologists conduct research, publish the results, give public presentations, prepare displays and conserve the museum collections. A graduate-level degree (MS or PhD) is required.

• State and Federal Government Positions: Many archaeologists work for state or federal governments. The US Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and the US Army Corps of Engineers employ about 800 archaeologists among them. Construction projects often require archaeological surveys to locate historic or prehistoric sites before excavation can begin. This kind of archaeology is called "Cultural Resources Management" (CRM).

  Every state has a State Historic Preservation Office with one or more archaeologists on staff. Their charge is to provide consultation on the preservation and protection of important cultural resources. Much of their work is done to comply with state and federal legislation that protects archaeological sites, historic buildings, shipwrecks, and Native American properties. Most government positions require a Masters degree.

• Fieldwork: Through their excavations, archaeologists establish a chronology of the past, and reconstruct ways of life that no longer exist. They broaden our understanding of why human culture has changed through time.

  The tools of the archaeologist's trade have become much more sophisticated over the last few decades. According to the Society for American Archaeology, "In previous centuries archaeologists were content simply to find objects. Today, armed with computers, laboratory analysis, theories about society and culture, and a wide range of questions about human behavior, they may try to reach into the minds of those who made and used the artifacts."

  A Master's Degree is sufficient to direct field crews, and a BA/BS will allow one to work as a field archaeologist in the US and to perform basic laboratory studies.

• Academic Positions: These careers often blend a nine-month teaching appointment with a summer of field research or consulting funded by grants or contracts. Teaching in a community college requires a Masters degree, while college or university positions require a PhD.

• Private Sector Archaeologists: Archaeologists also perform Cultural Resources Management (CRM) while employed by private firms. They may work for laboratories or centers within colleges, for engineering and environmental companies, in forensic roles, or as private consultants.

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