How to Become an Archaeologist?
Question: How to become an
archaeologist?
Answer: Take a field school and, if able,
go to university.
Answer:
Hello Daniel,
If you are interested in becoming an archaeologist there are plenty of
ways that you can gain in-the-field-experience.
The best way is to enroll in an archaeoloy field school that is run by a
university. These usually go for around 6 - 8 weeks in the summer months and
are easy to join as a visiting student. I went to the
Florida Atlantic
University Field School in Ecuador and the training that I received
completely prepared me for the profession. It is seriously the best field
school that I have ever heard of.
Another way to gain experience is by volunteering on an excavation. This
is essentially a trade of your time and labor for instruction in field
archaeology methods. This may be a little more difficult of a way to get
into archaeology than doing a formal field school and the resulting
experience will not be regarded as highly when you search for a job.
A university degree is technically a requirement for doing archaeology in
the USA, though, I have found, it is not a necessity. I have worked
professionally for 7 seasons without one, though I had a really good field
school in Ecuador and had to really push my way into the profession.
Once you have taken a field school and/ or earned a university degree
finding work is very easy and the pay is good. Well, it is easy and well
paying if you want to travel. Jobs are usually found and secured through the
website, www.shovelbums.org. You
just find a job posting in a place that you want to travel to, send them
your CV and a cover letter, and then wait for a response.
Getting into field archaeology is not the most difficult profession to
gain experience in. 6 weeks in the summer at a field school is enough to
make you (almost) employable to travel around the USA from project to
project.
If you do complete a field school and would like some help finding a job
I could throw a word in for you.
Links to other archaeology pages for more information:
Archaeology Field School-
Question about how to enroll in an archaeology field school and fieldwork as a
way to travel while making money to travel.
Archaeology Education and Work-
How to get into doing archaeology fieldwork while traveling to make money for
travel.
Past Horizons- A website with many volunteer
and field school opportunities around the planet. Really good.
Shovelbums.org-
The main website for finding professional archaeology fieldwork opportunities in the USA. Also has information on international
and domestic field schools.
Archaeology Fieldwork.com- Website with tons of information on working in cultural resource management (C.R.M) in North America. Also has a large collection of links of contract archaeology firms from many places on the globe.
Florida Atlantic University Field School on the Manabi Coast of Ecuador-
This is the field school where I received my archaeology training. I went
straight from this excavation into professional field work. I highly recommend
the Florida Atlantic University field school.
(If any of this information helps you - or if you just appreciate me
trying - please tell a friend about
www.vagabondjourney.com. Thanks!)
Question:
Hi Wade,
I read your story at
http://www.openroadsong.com/2008/02/archaeology-fieldwork-in-nicaragua-and.html
and couldnt be more interested. We have very similar interests, and
I intend on using Archaeology as a means to travel latin america. I was
a Peace Corps volunteer here and Nicaragua and continue working for a
local NGO, but want to get into the field. I saw you learned in Ecuador
in 2000 - naturally I wanted to ask you for advice on where I can learn
and how I can find work afterwards. Do you not need a university degree
in the subject, or do you get your experience from field schools? thanks
so much for any help you can give me,
--
Daniel Glazier
Gerente de Proyecto
Fundacion Santa Helena
Empalme de Boaco, Boaco, Nicaragua