Archeology is the discipline that deals with the study of human cultures that have developed throughout the world over the centuries. By analyzing the objects handed down to us by the most ancient populations, in fact, it is possible to find out more about their life and their customs. Being an archaeologist may not be as thrilling as the adventures of Indiana Jones, but if you're passionate about unearthing the tip of an arrow that hasn't been touched for 900 years, it might just be the perfect profession for you. If you think you have what it takes to become an archaeologist, this article will help you find out how to kickstart your career.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Meeting the Requirements
Step 1. Get a baccalaureate
Getting a high school diploma is essential to continue your education at the undergraduate level. Remember to study hard, with a particular focus on subjects related to this profession, such as science and history.
Step 2. Enroll in an undergraduate program
Until a few years ago it was not possible to enroll directly in a faculty of Archeology: generally it was necessary to enroll first in a degree course in Cultural Heritage, and then complete your course of study with a specialist degree in Archeology. Now, however, several Italian universities offer three-year degrees in this sector. In addition, brand new single-cycle degree courses in Archeology were created, lasting a total of 5 years.
During your studies you will find yourself dealing with subjects such as anthropology, geography and history. These disciplines will allow you to develop an in-depth understanding of topics closely related to your career
Step 3. Continue your studies by enrolling in a Master's Degree course in Archeology
After completing your bachelor's degree, continue your studies by facing a master's degree. You can choose whether to continue studying at the same university where you attended the three-year degree or to change city: consult the programs of the various degree courses to get an idea. In fact, by interrupting your studies after the bachelor's degree, you will have fewer career opportunities: you can certainly work as a laboratory technician or assistant, but if you want to have more job opportunities or cover positions of greater responsibility, a master's degree is necessary.
Obtaining a specialist degree will allow you to have access to different professions connected with the world of archeology. Finding work in the field can be tricky - a master's degree will allow you to become a university lecturer, museum curator or archivist, just to name a few of the more interesting professions connected to this rich industry
Step 4. Enroll in a graduate school
After obtaining a master's degree in Archeology you could enroll in one of the many specialization schools in the sector, which aim to deepen the preparation of the student in the field of archaeological disciplines. Generally these schools have a limited number and access is reserved for students of archeology or literature. Overall, an average of two years of course is planned.
Step 5. Consider a PhD
A good alternative to graduate schools is to obtain a doctorate in archeology. You will have to study one year longer than in a graduate school, as a doctorate has a total duration of three years, but it is the first step to obtain the necessary requirements to carry out a possible career as a university professor.
Remember that in the course of your studies you will probably have to carry out an internship, which is usually carried out in a superintendency or in a school building site. # * Remember that to enter a graduate school, or to be admitted to a PhD, you will typically need to pass an admissions test
Step 6. You possess the qualities necessary to become an archaeologist
If you want to become an archaeologist, it is important that you have or are at least committed to developing the qualities necessary to be successful in this profession. Remember that archeology is not a solitary pursuit and that you will need to be able to work as a team. Here are some key features to be successful:
- Knowing how to work with others. Whether you are the boss or just a member of a team, being able to give or take orders and work in a collaborative environment will help you advance your career in this industry.
- Investigative skills. The detective skills you will need to be successful are not limited to simple fieldwork. You will need to be able to do extensive research and understand how to apply the knowledge you have learned in the field.
- Critical thinking. You will need to be able to think critically to understand laboratory experiments and organize observations from field work.
- Analytical skills. You will need to be able to master the scientific method and analyze your data to advance your goals.
- Good writing skills. Contrary to popular belief, archaeologists don't spend all their time in action in exotic locations. Often you can find them writing detailed reports of their findings and publishing the results of their investigations in specialized journals.
Step 7. Learn to develop your cultural sensitivity
If you find yourself working in a foreign country, you must always be careful to respect local customs and expectations. Abroad you will be perceived by the locals as a representative of your country, or of the institution that sent you: you will be judged for your behavior. Make sure you are open-minded and respectful of others, to best represent yourself and your country.
Part 2 of 3: Getting Experience
Step 1. First of all, remember that in Italy the profession of the Archaeologist is not regulated by a professional register, neither as regards the training aspect nor as regards the exercise of work
Becoming an archaeologist, therefore, can be a rather uncertain process: try to get all the practical experience possible to have an edge over your colleagues.
Step 2. Prepare to work hard to find a job
As you can imagine, there are few places available and the competition is formidable. Those who want to become an archaeologist, however, generally love challenges and are not motivated by the mere desire for money or glory, but by the passion for ancient finds and their interest in the life of the peoples who preceded us. If you are really passionate about this profession, your commitment will allow you to make a career.
Unfortunately, archaeologists are among the least paid specialists in Italy: the average salary can be around € 15,000 a year
Step 3. Volunteer
In the world of archaeological work, supply exceeds demand. If you have the opportunity to volunteer, do not hesitate, as long as you can afford it financially: you will be able to gain experience, build social relationships with other experts in the sector who may be useful in the future and have the opportunity to make yourself known in your turn. Don't be discouraged if you can't find a paid job right away: being able to get "in the loop" could certainly increase the chances that you will be contacted for future projects.
Remember that the work of the volunteer is a fundamental component of this type of profession. Even experienced archaeologists often volunteer to work as volunteers, for example by participating in specialist round tables, curating newspaper articles or organizing events
Step 4. Keep in mind what your chosen profession entails
To work as an archaeologist in Italy, you must be ready to become a real freelance professional. Of course, some archaeologists regularly work hired by Italian universities, such as doctoral students and researchers. Most of the Italian archaeologists, however, work as an external collaborator.
If you have just completed a master's or doctoral program you can ask your professors if they have any information on any available job positions
Step 5. Enter the perspective of the freelancer
Archaeologists in Italy work with the most diverse contracts, ranging from occasional services to temporary employment. Since there is no national regulation for this profession, even from the point of view of pay, the possibilities vary from case to case.
Italy is a country rich in history: the archaeological sector in our country, despite the period of crisis, always attracts a large number of tourists and is indeed estimated to have grown in recent years. Nonetheless, finding a stable job is a constant challenge for archaeologists
Step 6. Specialize in one area
A specialization will allow you to develop in-depth knowledge in a specific research area and will constitute an unparalleled resource for your work. You can specialize by doing detailed research on a given topic, learning how to use the specific tools required in a particular industry, or gaining experience with other older colleagues. Among the various specializations in the archaeological field we can for example mention the study of ceramics, osteology (the study of bones), numismatics (the study of coins) and the analysis of lithic artefacts (the study of stone tools).
- Depending on the area in which you choose to specialize, it may be helpful to learn the language of the target area. For example, if you want to become an Egyptologist, knowing Arabic could be an added benefit.
- If you choose to specialize in classical studies (i.e. concerning ancient Rome and Greece), knowing ancient Greek and Latin is essential. If you choose to operate in South America, you may want to consider learning Spanish and deepening your knowledge of the local culture.
Step 7. Make a career in the industry through academic publications
If you want to make your way into the world of archeology, you might consider getting your work published in the most influential journals in the industry. Get in the habit of bringing your written reports to the attention of academic publishing houses. If you are able to publish your work, your reputation will spread quickly and you will be able to make a career more easily in the academic world, for example as a professor, or in some administrative position.
Step 8. Make a career out of trying to take on more responsibility as you dig
If you have the opportunity to participate in an expedition, either as a volunteer or as a paid job, try to get noticed intelligently. The more experience you gain, the more it will be useful to you in the future to manage positions of responsibility. You will have to work more hours, but the knowledge you will gain from this experience will be very useful for your future career.
Step 9. Consider choosing a profession related to the world of archeology
After having your first traditional archaeological work experience, or having simply realized that you want a job that requires less world travel and offers more stable hours, you may want to consider leveraging your archeology degree in a related field, which you allow you to follow your love for the discipline, but working in more traditional hours. Here are some possibilities to consider:
- University professor. Many archaeologists dream of working in universities, since it is a work environment that offers great prestige and an excellent salary. The working hours are linked to the academic semesters: during the rest of the year it is possible to devote full time to more practical activities, such as carrying out archaeological research in the field. Such a workplace offers a more balanced and stable lifestyle than that of the traditional archaeologist.
- Museum curator. The curators work full-time, with the aim of organizing and managing exhibitions aimed at exhibiting the artifacts found in the various archaeological sites. They have to do research, publish results, make public presentations and set up showcases for exhibitions.
- Manage and protect archaeological sites. A specialist in the sector will manage the organization of the existing archaeological sites. It is possible to organize guided visits to a particular archaeological site, or to ensure that another site is closed to the public and protected from indiscreet visits.
Part 3 of 3: Preparing to Work
Step 1. Be prepared to travel a lot
It certainly cannot be said that an archaeologist has easy working hours. Having a passion for this job means being ready to spend a lot of time away from home. Digging could take you away from your family for months or even years - be aware of this aspect of your profession. Archaeologists often say that finding a balance between family and work is a challenge, but keep in mind that there are career opportunities that will allow you to work at more stable hours, away from archaeological sites.
Step 2. Be prepared to spend a lot of time outdoors
If you want to become an archaeologist you have to be prepared to spend a lot of time outdoors. You need to be ready to spend months in a tent, never getting fresh from the shower and dealing with snakes, intense heat and physical discomfort. That's part of the fun - you need to be prepared for this aspect of the profession if you want to get serious.
Step 3. Be prepared to face dangers
Even if you're not Indiana Jones, you may often come across dangerous creatures like rattlesnakes, spiders and bears. It may happen that you unknowingly enter areas where drugs are grown or produced while conducting a site survey. You have to be ready to face these situations in cold blood.
Step 4. Get up early
Most archaeologists get up at 4 or 5 in the morning and start working in the dark, when they can't even see what's in front of them. Getting up early helps you do eight consecutive hours of work and avoid the sweltering heat of the late afternoon. Generally, an archaeologist's working day is punctuated by frequent breaks to eat and refresh, so keep in mind that you will have short moments of relaxation.
It may happen that you stay in a tent directly on the archaeological site or you stop at some distance from your place of work and have to take a bus every morning to get there
Step 5. Maintain good physical shape
Working in the field can be exhausting. You will have to work in rough terrain and in hostile climates, for several weeks at a time, all in places far away from home. If you want to dedicate yourself to this career with passion, it is very important to stay in shape through regular cardio and muscle strengthening exercises. You will need to have excellent stamina that allows you to spend 8 hours a day digging in the sun: having a strong and fit body is a fundamental requirement. While you've never thought that the life of an archaeologist could be so physically tiring, it's actually a much more demanding profession than it appears in the photos.
Step 6. Always be very careful when digging
It goes far beyond the mere search for objects. An excavation is equivalent to the destruction of a site, planned down to the smallest detail. Archaeologists know very well that, once excavated, a site can never return to its original state: its destruction must therefore be planned and controlled step by step. Expedition members dig about 5-10cm at a time, noting each layer they unearth, well aware of how it will never return to its original state.
- Before starting your working day, make sure you are familiar with the excavation site.
- You will have to dig using shovels, spades, brushes and other tools that will be provided to you from time to time.
Step 7. Take care of the archaeological finds
Many people mistakenly think that archaeologists are looking for dinosaur bones. In reality, they deal with finding objects, while the bones are the responsibility of paleontologists. When working at excavations, you will need to devote all your attention to finding artifacts present, such as arrowheads or vases. You will need to follow a detailed documentation procedure and carefully keep what you find. It is important to use your tools correctly to ensure that the finds can be preserved for future study.
- Some members of the expedition will generally draw and photograph floors and walls to preserve traces of the removed layers.
- Some tend to photograph photographic finds and to mark the exact location of the discovery.
- Some technicians store data using GPS receivers to draw up a digital map of the site and its boundaries.
Step 8. Take detailed notes
When you work at an excavation site you will probably need to take notes and record everything you discover, even the details that seem the most insignificant to you. You will have to write down everything: what the objects you find look like, where you found them, the composition of the soil in the area of discovery, the surrounding objects and any other noteworthy aspects. Think of yourself as a detective who wants to uncover mysteries dating back hundreds or thousands of years.
Step 9. Analyze the data in the lab
If you think that the work of an archaeologist is all done on the excavation sites you are very wrong: there are many other aspects of this profession to consider. Once you have finished the field work you will have to clean and catalog your finds. You will then need to organize the information you have and make a written report. While working at archaeological sites is considered by many to be the fun part of the job, there is also a lot of paperwork to be done, as with any other profession.
Many archaeologists actually spend more time doing laboratory analysis than participating in excavations. This aspect of the profession, which allows you to reassemble the pieces found and make sense of what has been unearthed, can be exciting and exciting
Advice
- Keep a journal in which to write down your discoveries and adventures. Write down anything you find interesting.
- In the movie "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," the protagonist tells a student that to become a good archaeologist he must first get out of libraries. To be able to manage this career it is important to have a strong desire for adventure and discovery!
- Remember that the archeology you see in the Indiana Jones movies has nothing to do with the actual profession. You will need to work hard to stay fit and wear appropriate clothing and tools.
Warnings
- Real archaeologists aren't what you see in Indiana Jones movies.
- Being in perfect physical shape is essential. While it doesn't seem too strenuous on TV, working 8 hours a day in the sun can be really exhausting.
- A career in the world of archeology pays off the commitment. Many archaeologists are professors or work as museum staff or government consultants. These positions are difficult to obtain, but if you want to get a job like this remember that it is very important to know how to think outside the box.
