Archaeologist: Duties & Salary
by Willette Francis
Archaeologists spend a lot of time excavating and analyzing items found underground at dig sites around the world. This career is perfect for someone who thirsts for knowledge about other cultures and is interested in world travel. Find out more about the education and training needed to dig into this profession.
What does an archaeologist do?
Archaeologists usually work with universities or museums. Archaeologists examine and recover items and materials from ruins, which includes tools, pottery, and other objects left by human civilizations. These items are used to determine the culture's history, practices, and customs.
Their goal is also to investigate their findings in order to answer specific questions or to save these cultural resources from destruction by humans or nature. Ultimately, archaeologists want to preserve and investigate cultures in hopes of making a connection to our past.
Before archaeologists begin work at a dig site, they do research about the area's background. This helps them know who lived in the area, they get to know what structures exist, and what changes have occurred over time. Once this information is gathered, it is time to survey the area. Surveying includes recording and collecting artifacts to determine their importance and significance to the site and whether excavation and further testing is needed. If the archaeologist decides to excavate, portions of the site are divided and meticulously excavated until all cultural items are found. Larger artifacts are left until completely uncovered and photographed and mapped.
Artifacts are taken to the laboratory for cleaning and cataloging by classification. They also undergo further analysis to determine when they were made and used. These finding are written in a thorough report and then the artifacts are curated or stored at a state archaeology office, museum, or research facility to be used for future studies. This would not be the case with human bones, funerary objects, or sacred Native American tribal artifacts. These items would be examined and the bones taken to a state-designated cemetery, and the historic Native American objects would go to the appropriate tribe.
How much are archaeologists paid and what kinds of archaeologist jobs can I get?
In 2006, the median salary for an archaeologist was $49,930. Archaeologists will experience the majority of job growth in management, scientific, and technical consulting services. As construction projects increase, archaeologists will be needed to monitor work so that historical sites and their artifacts are properly preserved. Overall employment growth for the archaeology field will be 15 percent between 2006 and 2016.
Although those seeking social science positions will experience great competition for jobs, if you have attained higher education you will have the best chance at these positions. Social scientists can also qualify for positions in policy, research, and marketing. Their wide range of skills makes them extremely capable for careers as market and survey researchers, psychologists, engineers, urban and regional planners, and statisticians. Employment opportunities as academic faculty are an option, as well as teaching positions in secondary and elementary schools.
Related careers include economists, market and survey researchers, psychologists, and urban and regional planners.
What does an archaeologist do?
Archaeologists usually work with universities or museums. Archaeologists examine and recover items and materials from ruins, which includes tools, pottery, and other objects left by human civilizations. These items are used to determine the culture's history, practices, and customs.
Their goal is also to investigate their findings in order to answer specific questions or to save these cultural resources from destruction by humans or nature. Ultimately, archaeologists want to preserve and investigate cultures in hopes of making a connection to our past.
Before archaeologists begin work at a dig site, they do research about the area's background. This helps them know who lived in the area, they get to know what structures exist, and what changes have occurred over time. Once this information is gathered, it is time to survey the area. Surveying includes recording and collecting artifacts to determine their importance and significance to the site and whether excavation and further testing is needed. If the archaeologist decides to excavate, portions of the site are divided and meticulously excavated until all cultural items are found. Larger artifacts are left until completely uncovered and photographed and mapped.
Artifacts are taken to the laboratory for cleaning and cataloging by classification. They also undergo further analysis to determine when they were made and used. These finding are written in a thorough report and then the artifacts are curated or stored at a state archaeology office, museum, or research facility to be used for future studies. This would not be the case with human bones, funerary objects, or sacred Native American tribal artifacts. These items would be examined and the bones taken to a state-designated cemetery, and the historic Native American objects would go to the appropriate tribe.
How much are archaeologists paid and what kinds of archaeologist jobs can I get?
In 2006, the median salary for an archaeologist was $49,930. Archaeologists will experience the majority of job growth in management, scientific, and technical consulting services. As construction projects increase, archaeologists will be needed to monitor work so that historical sites and their artifacts are properly preserved. Overall employment growth for the archaeology field will be 15 percent between 2006 and 2016.
Although those seeking social science positions will experience great competition for jobs, if you have attained higher education you will have the best chance at these positions. Social scientists can also qualify for positions in policy, research, and marketing. Their wide range of skills makes them extremely capable for careers as market and survey researchers, psychologists, engineers, urban and regional planners, and statisticians. Employment opportunities as academic faculty are an option, as well as teaching positions in secondary and elementary schools.
Related careers include economists, market and survey researchers, psychologists, and urban and regional planners.
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