Who is archaeologist

Archaeologists study human history by examining artefacts, which range from prehistoric tools and buildings to animal bones and tiny organisms. Organised training excavations are a useful way of gaining experience. What does an archaeologist do? Typical employers Qualifications and training Key skills. Archaeologists study past human activity by excavating, dating and interpreting objects and sites of historical interest. They implement excavation projects, informally known as digs, preserve archaelogical remains and collect data that informs their understanding of the past.

The Yearbook and directory published annually by CIfA is a useful source of information for networking and speculative applications. Although archaeological fieldwork usually takes place in teams, it is possible to work on a self-employed basis. Temporary contracts are common. You could be based outdoors at an excavation or site inspection or indoors in an office, laboratory or museum, though you are increasingly likely to be based indoors as you progress.

With experience, there is scope for consultancy work. Opportunities for national and international travel may arise through different dig locations, consultancy work with international development organisations, or through attendance of professional conferences.

While the job can be physically tiring and may involve long periods of time working outdoors in all kinds of weather, most archaeologists are passionate about their work and enjoy the thrill of discovering more about past civilisations. Archaeologists may work in many different roles and specialisations according to practical expertise or particular periods of the past.

These specialisations may in turn allow archaeologists to work in other fields, such as forensic investigation of modern crimes or climate change research. Teaching opportunities are also available, as local archaeological groups are becoming increasingly popular. While academic qualifications are not always essential, most paid employees have an archaeology degree.

Many careers in archaeology lead to academia, for which outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications are usually necessary due to the fierce level of competition. It is also worth noting than earning a good salary in archaeology without a degree may be difficult.

Graduates from degree disciplines other than archaeology will need to obtain a relevant postgraduate qualification, although qualifications in scientific and engineering subjects may be useful in laboratory analysis or reconstruction and restoration projects. Previous study in historical subjects will be helpful, while knowledge of modern or historical languages, such as Latin or ancient Greek, may be useful when interpreting finds or collaborating with foreign colleagues.

Whatever the role, archaeological experience is essential. Wind s and flood s carry sand , dust and soil , depositing them on top of abandoned features and artifacts. These deposits build up over time, burying the remains. Sometimes catastrophe s, like volcanic eruption s, speed up this burial process.

In places where earth has been carved away—like in the Grand Canyon in the U. Cities and communities also tend to be built in layers.

Rome, Italy, has been an urban center for thousands of years. The streets of downtown Rome today are several meters higher than they were during the time of Julius Caesar. Centuries of Romans have built it up— medieval home on top of ancient home, modern home on top of medieval home. Establishing a dig site in an inhabited area can be a very difficult process.

Archaeologists looking for an ancient Roman fortress , for instance, may have to first excavate a Renaissance bakery and medieval hospital. Because most artifacts lie underground, scientists have developed methods to help them figure out where they should dig.

Sometimes they choose sites based on old myth s and stories about where people lived or where events occurred. The ancient city of Troy , written about by Greek poet Homer as early as BCE, was thought to be a work of fiction. Using the Iliad as a guide, German amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered the ruins of the city near the town of Hisarlik, Turkey, in Sometimes, archaeologists use historical map s to find ancient artifacts.

Before securing a site, an archaeological team surveys the area, looking for signs of remains. These might include artifacts on the ground or unusual mounds in the earth.

New technology has greatly increased their ability to survey an area. For example, aerial and satellite imagery can show patterns that might not be visible from the ground. Other technologies give clues about what lies under the surface. These techniques involve radar and sonar. Radar and sonar technologies often use radio wave s, electrical current s, and laser s.

Archaeologists send these signals into the earth. As the signals hit something solid, they bounce back up to the surface. Scientists study the time and paths the signals take to familiarize themselves with the underground landscape. Accidental finds can also lead archaeologists to dig sites. For instance, farmers plowing their fields might come across sherd s of pottery. A construction crew might discover ruins beneath a building site. Another monumental discovery was made by accident.

In , agricultural workers in Xian, China, were digging a well. The complex includes 8, life-sized clay soldiers, horses, chariot s, and artillery , popularly known as the Terra Cotta Warriors.

The archaeological research surrounding the Terra Cotta Warriors has provided insight on the organization and leadership style of Qin Shi Huangdi and the development of Chinese culture. Once a site is chosen, archaeologists must get permission to dig from the landowner. If it is public land, they must obtain the proper permit s from the local, state, or federal government. Before moving a single grain of dirt, archaeologists make maps of the area and take detailed photographs.

Once they begin digging, they will destroy the original landscape, so it is important to record how things looked beforehand. The last step before digging is to divide the site into a grid to keep track of the location of each find. Then archaeologists choose sample squares from the grid to dig. This allows the archaeological team to form a complete study of the area. They also leave some plots on the grid untouched.

Archaeologists like to preserve portions of their dig sites for future scientists to study—scientists who may have better tools and techniques than are available today. For example, during the Great Depression in the s, programs to create jobs led to many archaeological digs around the United States. Some scientists on these digs removed artifacts, such as pottery, but threw away charcoal and animal bones. These items were considered junk.

Today, scientists are able to carbon-date the charcoal and analyze the bones to see what kinds of animals people were domesticating and eating at the time. It is important that archaeologists today keep some parts of each site pristine. Not all archaeology involves digging in the earth. Archaeologists and engineer s work with sophisticated technology to probe the earth below without disturbing the ground. National Geographic Emerging Explorer Dr.

Albert Yu-Min Lin leads an innovative archaeological project centered in Mongolia. The Valley of the Khans project is using digital imaging , aerial photograph y, radar, and digital surveying to locate the tomb of Genghis Khan. Using satellite technology, Lin and his team can access information about the project without disturbing the land or even going to Mongolia. The Big Dig The process of researching and securing a dig site can take years. Digging is the field work of archaeology.

On occasion, archaeologists might need to move earth with bulldozer s and backhoe s. Usually, however, archaeologists use tools such as brushes, hand shovels, and even toothbrushes to scrape away the earth around artifacts. The most common tool that archaeologists use to dig is a flat trowel.

A trowel is a hand-held shovel used for smoothing as well as digging. Archaeologists use trowels to slowly scrape away soil. For very small or delicate remains, archaeologists might also dig with dental pick s, spoons, or very fine blades. Often, they will sift dirt through a fine mesh screen.

Tiny remains, such as beads, can often be found this way. Archaeologists take lots of notes and photographs along each step of the process. Sometimes they include audio and video recordings. Global positioning system GPS units and data from geographic information systems GIS help them map the location of various features with a high level of precision.

When archaeologists find remains, they are often broken or damaged after hundreds or even thousands of years underground. Sunlight, rain, soil, animals, bacteria , and other natural processes can cause artifacts to erode , rust , rot , break, and warp. Sometimes, however, natural processes can help preserve materials.

For example, sediments from floods or volcanic eruptions can encase materials and preserve them. In one case, the chill of an Alpine glacier preserved the body of a man for more than 5, years! Forensic archaeologists studying his body were surprised to learn that he was a murder victim—the crime just took place more than 5, years ago. Uncovered Artifacts As artifacts are uncovered, the archaeological team records every step of the process through photos, drawings, and notes. Once the artifacts have been completely removed, they are cleaned, labeled, and classified.

Particularly fragile or damaged artifacts are sent to a conservator. Conservators have special training in preserving and restoring artifacts so they are not destroyed when exposed to air and light. Textile s, including clothing and bedding, are especially threatened by exposure.

Textile conservators must be familiar with climate , as well as the chemical composition of the cloth and dye s, in order to preserve the artifacts. In , Swedish archaeologists recovered the ship Vasa , which sank in Conservators protected the delicate oak structure of Vasa by spraying it with polyethylene glycol PEG.

The ship was sprayed with PEG for 17 years, and allowed to dry for nine. Today, Vasa sits in its own enormous museum, a hallmark of Swedish heritage. Then the artifacts are sent to a lab for analysis. This is usually the most time-consuming part of archaeology. For every day spent digging, archaeologists spend several weeks processing their finds in the lab.

All of this analysis—counting, weighing, categorizing—is necessary. Archaeologists use the information they find and combine it with what other scientists have discovered. When did people develop tools, and how did they use them?

What did they use to make clothing? Did their clothing styles indicate their social ranks and roles? What did they eat? Did they live in large groups or smaller family units? Did they trade with people from other regions? Were they warlike or peaceful? What were their religious practices? Archaeologists ask all of these questions and more.

The scientists write up their findings and publish them in scientific journal s. Other scientists can look at the data and debate the interpretations, helping us get the most accurate story. Publication also lets the public know what scientists are learning about our history. Sherds and Shards Many archaeologists study broken bits of pottery. These fragments are called potsherds, and sometimes just sherds.

Sherds can be anything from bits of a broken water jug to a piece of a clay tablet to the components of China's "Terra Cotta Warriors. Shards include fragments of ancient windows, wine bottles, and jewelry. Trashy Science Most archaeologists study the past, but some study people who are still alive. For example, Dr. William Rathje uses his archaeological skills to dig through present-day garbage bins and landfills to learn about what Americans consume, discard, and waste.

Ancient Cannibals Some ancient humans may have indulged in cannibalism on a regular basis. Archaeologists discovered ,year-old remains from an early human species, Homo antecessor , in a Spanish cave. Among the remains were human bones with marks on them that appear to come from stone tools used to prepare meals.

What is the difference? BC stands for Before Christ, and it is used to date events that happened before the birth of Jesus, whom Christians consider the son of God. In the late 20th century, scientists realized they were basing the entire history of the world around the birth of one religious figure. The dates are still the same, only the letters have changed.

Also called radiocarbon dating. Also called Llano. Also called a CAT scanner. Also called the Parthenon Marbles. Also called the Hebrew Scriptures. A hypothesis is tested to determine if it is accurate. Nicknamed "Otzi. Navy during the Civil War. RAdio Detection And Ranging method of determining the presence and location of an object using radio waves.

Also called carbon-dating. The decree is carved in three languages: Greek, demotic, and hieroglyphic. The current sea level rise is 1. Also called Troia and Ilion. Environmental archaeologists often work closely with paleoecologists and anthropologists, studying plant and animal remains so as to uncover what types of plant and animal species were living at the time of prehistoric habitations, and how people living during those times managed them.

As the forest grew, the people were provided with more resources plants, animals, and timber , hence the growth of the people and their territory.

Underwater Archaeology Underwater archaeology is a fairly new discipline that explores and examines shipwrecks and materials at the bottom of both shallow bodies of water such as lakes and rivers as well as deep oceans. Underwater archaeology also uncovers and studies water-buried cities caused by sea levels rising or by earthquakes such as portions of the ancient city of Alexandria, Egypt.

Both prehistoric and historic periods are studied in this discipline. By using sophisticated equipment such as sonar, remote controlled cameras, and remote controlled salvage vehicles , ancient civilizations that have been underwater for centuries can be discovered.

Special methods to preserve perishable materials are used, involving the latest synthetic processes, in order to conserve the artifacts. In ancient times, ships were the main mode of transport, especially for trade. Many ships carrying full cargo and crew have been lost at sea due to storms and rocky shallow waters.

These shallow water shipwrecks reap a plethora of sunken treasures in the form of food items, weapons, cups, plates etc. One of the most famous shipwrecks, the Titanic which sunk in and killed people , was located in using remote-controlled cameras.

Hundreds of artifacts toys, furniture, lighting etc. It goes without saying that there is a high level of danger that is involved with this type of work. Using robotic divers that have strong lights and cameras attached to them helps greatly when working at low depths and with little visibility. Forensic Archaeology Forensic archaeology involves applying archaeological methods in order to investigate and reconstruct a crime, usually a murder.

Forensic archaeologists, or forensic anthropologists, help to identify human remains. Archaeological methods are sometimes used to assist in the excavation of human remains - the process is very similar to that used by traditional archaeologists when recovering remains from the past.

Forensic archaeologists are sometimes commissioned by organizations such as the UN to investigate mass graves in order to gather incriminating evidence for war crimes. Becoming an archaeologist can take between four and twelve years, depending on the level of degree pursued. Archaeologists rank highly among careers. Overall they rank in the 82nd percentile of careers for satisfaction scores. Please note that this number is derived from the data we have collected from our Sokanu members only.

There is an instant connection to the person that left it there so long ago. Investigation: the search for and examination of facts about something hidden, unique, or complex. Archaeology may, in fact, be the most investigative of disciplines. Its practitioners are charged with the study of human cultures and ancient human settlements, and the analysis of data to develop new hypotheses or contribute to existing theories.

Before committing to a career in archaeology, it is important to consider both the personal characteristics of a typical archaeologist and the skills commonly required in most positions. Patience and ability to persevere Archaeological studies often move forward at glacial pace. An eye for detail Successful archaeologists possess an inquisitiveness about the subject matter under investigation and the capacity to piece together facts based upon incomplete evidence. Strong writing skills Archaeologists need exemplary writing skills to create research reports and journal articles on findings.

Organizational and project management abilities Archaeological digs are multi-faceted operations that demand careful planning and organization. Capacity to work in teams The vast majority of archaeological digs and other work are carried out by teams of specialists.

An appreciation of science and history Archaeologists must have a vast knowledge of scientific data and methods, which are typically applied to their research, digs, and analysis of artifacts, time periods, and geographic areas.

Computer skills The work of archaeologists calls for information technology IT literacy and the ability to adapt to new software. Willingness to endure time away from family and potentially isolated living conditions for extended periods while conducting fieldwork. Interest in traveling to remote locations and working closely with people from other regions. When looking for work in the archaeological field, candidates should be sure to look at positions with less obvious job titles, as jobs in archaeology may have titles such as Consultant , Field Assistant , Cultural Heritage Officer , and Heritage Consultant.

Archaeologists work in a diverse profession and engage in a wide variety of activities, from finding and excavating archaeological sites, to performing scientific laboratory analysis of finds and writing papers and books related to findings. The following are examples of some of the business, organizational, and government sectors that create jobs for archaeologists:. Archaeological consulting firms identify, assess, and preserve archaeological sites and ensure that developers comply with regulations regarding sites.

Oil, gas, mining, and natural resource companies find, excavate, and record archaeological sites and other aspects of cultural heritage affected by development projects. They also enforce regulatory compliance. Engineering and environmental consulting companies conduct impact studies and excavations.

Federal, state, and local government departments employ archaeologists to manage conservation, research, and cultural resource programs. After the fieldwork, artifacts must be sorted, cleaned, and catalogued. Data must be organized and analyzed and reports finalized.