How to be an Archaeologist

We all love Indiana Jones, but a real career in archaeology can be different from the movies. It takes goods grades, an athletic mindset, and a willingness to work in some crazy locations with people as crazy as you are.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A trowel
• A straight edge shovel
• Willingness to get down and dirty
• A good work ethic

1. Get good grades in school. You'll need to know some math and geometry to have an organized professional archaeological site. You'll also need a solid knowledge of history, as well as literature, to research local histories and cultural backgrounds. You'll need a science background for environmental factors that could affect an archaeological site.
2. Go to college and major in Anthropology. Anthropology departments usually breakdown into cultural anthropology, linguistics, physical anthropology and archaeology. If you want to work with burials and human remains, you'll want to have some courses in physical anthropology.
3. Find an Archaeological Field School. You can find field schools through local universities and museums. Some field schools are located in your city or within driving distance. Others might mean you'll have to buy a plane ticket to Guatemala. Remember, you'll have to volunteer your time for this. No one will pay you for your work at a field school, but you can earn college credit.
4. You'll be working outside, so cover up so you don't get a bad sunburn. Wear clothes that can get dirty, and wear hiking boots or sneakers. Archaeological sites can be on the side of hill, at high elevations, or near a swamp. Be prepared for anything from parasites to camping on a beach.
5. Be prepared to dig for eight hours. Real archaeology can be physically exhausting. If you aren't digging, you may be sifting through dirt of artifacts. It's a physical job, so don't complain about how tired you are. This kills morale and no one will like you.
6. Eventually you'll be able to work in the lab and research some of these objects you have pulled from the ground. Archaeologists detail exactly where artifacts were found, how many, and then try to piece together a story of what occurred at that site based on the physical evidence. Results of this work can take years. It is a slow process.

Tips & Warnings

• Archaeologists are fun people. No one would go into this line of work if they didn't love it.
• Try to get involved in Field Schools in unique areas. You'll get to know different cultures, people, and get some experience.
• Go to the American Anthropological Association Conference. You'll meet people who are professional anthropologists and archaeologists in a variety of careers, such as museums, universitites, and people who work in the field.
• Archaeology is becoming more technologically advanced with new computer programs and virtual sites to show what a site used to look like. If you have an interest in both computers and history, this may be a great specialization for you.
• You probably won't make a lot of money in this career.
• You will likely need to get a Ph.D. in Anthropology to make this a full-time career.
• People will think you are in a glamorous career... and hopefully they will pay for your lunch.