How To Become An Archaeologist And What Does An Archaeologist Do?

Who Is An Archaeologist?

An Archaeologist Is A Person Who Is Specialised In The Field Of Archeology. Archaeologists Sum Up The Knowledge Of Geography, History And Anthropology With In-depth Expertise In The Field Of Geology, Art, Chemistry, And Literature To Form A Scientific Specialisation Known As Archaeology. There Are Many Different Environments In Which An Archaeologist Might Find Work. The Discovery And Documentation Of Ancient Human Civilisations Are Accomplished Through The Retrieval, Investigation, And Documentation Of The Material Remains Of Those Civilisations. The Study Of Ancient Human Societies Has Traditionally Been Understood To Be The Primary Focus Of Archaeology.

Responsibilities Of An Archaeologist

When It Comes To Working In A Profession Which Involves A Lot Of Observation And Patience, Archaeologists Constantly Work Towards Discovering And Exploring The Past Hidden Historical Event. Archaeologists Daily Conduct Field Investigations, Analyse Artefacts, Excavate Sites, Manage Site Project Logistics, Write Reports And Recommendations, Teach, Conduct Research And Publish Their Research Results In Academic Journals.

Archaeology Is An Essential Profession Because It Gives Us A Timeline Of Our Past. It Allows Us To Understand Why Human Culture Changes Over Time. It Will Enable Us To Explain Human Causal Behaviour In The Past, Which Helps Us. Through Archaeology, We Can Make More Informed Decisions About Human Progress As It Currently Exists.

The Roles And Responsibilities Of An Archaeologist Are As Follows:

• Archaeologists Need To Preserve, Restore, And Clean Artefacts For Future Generations To Enjoy.
• Archaeological Excavations At The Site.
• Gather And Preserve Artefacts Made Of Stone, Metal, And Bone.
• Drawings Of Unit Profiles, Stratum Surfaces, Features And Findings Should Be Drawn And Depicted.
• Inquiring Into Historical Records, Aerial Imagery, And Other Data Sources To Locate Possible Archaeological Dig Sites.
• Keeping Track Of And Documenting The Removal Of Artefacts From Excavation Sites In Order To Ensure The Accuracy Of Records And Minimise The Risk Of Damage
• Finding, Analysing, And Dating Artefacts Recovered From The Dig.
• creating Computer-generated Evaluations And Simulations Of Excavated Sites In Order To Develop Estimated Examples Of Historical Structures And Culture
• Handles Excavation Work And Artefact Recording And Analysis.
• Organising And Analysing Data From Various Sources In Order To Gain A Better Understanding Of The Subject Matter.
• The Dissemination Of New Knowledge Requires The Production Of Reports, Academic Papers, And Presentations.
• Verifying That Any Proposed Construction Will Not Disturb Potentially Valuable Archaeological Sites By Reviewing Developer Planning Applications
• An Essential Part Of This Process Is Investigating Scientific Theories And Their Testing Through Further Research.
• To Improve The Accuracy Of Any Assessments Or Projections, To Conduct Interviews And Coordinate With Other Experts In A Given Region And Period Is Recommended.
• An Educator In A Museum Or School Who Teaches History And Culture To The Public.

Types Of Archaeologist

After Completing The Courses In The Field Of Archeology, One Can Also Become Specialised In The Following Profession:

• Prehistoric Archaeologist: In This Profession, The Prehistoric Archaeologist Will Study Past Cultural Patterns That Did Not Have Any Written Language.
• Environmental Archaeologist: Here, The Environmental Archaeologist Works Across The Environment To Study The Past Pattern That Had A Crucial Impact On The Environment.
• Palaeontologists: Palaeontologists Studies About Life Forms That Existed On The Earth Before Human Existence.
• Experimental Archaeologist: Experimental Archaeologists Study An Item Or Culture Through Attempts To Test Archaeological Hypotheses.
• Urban Archaeologist: Urban Archaeology Is A Subfield Of Archaeology That Focuses On Large Towns And Cities With Long Stratigraphic Histories Of Occupation. Some Archaeologists Use "urban Archaeology" To Refer To Any Archaeology Conducted In A City. Urban Archaeologists Constantly Work Toward Discovering The Past Events That Happened In The Urban Areas.
• Historical Archaeologist: Historical Archaeologist Focuses On Studying Historical-cultural Or Civilisations That Happened In The Earlier Era Of Recorded History.
• Underwater Archaeologists: Study The Physical Remains Of Human Activities, Which Are Preset Beneath Or Surface Of The Oceans. They Also Get Exposure To Discover Maritime Technology.

Skills Required To Become A Successful Archaeologist

• Excitement And Eagerness To Keep Up With Archaeology's Latest Developments In A Well-organised Approach With Adequate Attention To Depth Detail.
• Abilities Such As Self-motivation, Concentration, And Good Communication With Coworkers
• Skilful In The Use Of A Wide Range Of Instruments And Tools
• Long-term Planning Combined With Strong Computer Expertise
• A Calm And Analytical Mind With A Passion For Archaeology.

Education Required To Become An Archaeologist

The Necessary Qualification Is Essential On The Part Of An Archaeologist. The Candidate First Needs To Complete 12th, Then Earn Bachelor's And Master's Degrees. After Completing The Master's Course, One Can Also Opt For A Doctorate Degree, Which Helps Him/her For More Scalable Career Opportunities.

Degree/Diploma Courses

• BA In Ancient Indian History & Archaeology
• Post Graduate Diploma Museology
• Advanced Post Graduate Diploma In Archaeology
• PG Diploma In Archival Science And Manuscriptology
• BA In Archaeology & Museology
• BA In History
• B.Sc Anthropology
• BA Hons. Anthropology

Masters Courses:

• MA Ancient History & Archaeology
• MA In Archaeology
• M.Phil In Indian History & Archaeology
• M.A A.I.H.C. & Arch.

Doctorate Course

• Ph.D Archaeology

Top Colleges To Attend To Become An Archaeologist

1. Institute Of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey Of India, New Delhi
2. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
3. Barkatullah Vishwavidhyalaya, Bhopal
4. The Delhi Institute Of Heritage Research & Management, New Delhi
5. Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (Haryana)
6. Department Of Ancient Indian History, Culture And Archaeology, Panjab University, Chandigarh

Employment Areas In The Field Of Archeology

Listed Below Are The Industries Where Archaeologist Mostly Work:

• Archives
• Research Organisations
• Research Institutions
• Court Houses
• Historic Sites
• Museums
• National Parks
• Universities
• Underwater Archaeology Wing
• Libraries
• Institutions
• Tourism Industry
• Publishing Houses
• Cultural Centres
• Defence Services
• Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI)
• National Heritage Agencies
• Indian Council Of Historical Research (ICHR)

Future Prospects In The Field Of Archeology

• Archaeologist
• Historic Buildings Inspector/conservation Officer
• Museum/gallery Curator
• Heritage Manager
• Lecturer
• Documentation Specialist
• Museum Education Officer

Salary Of An Archaeologist

Archaeologists Usually Work Full-time Employment. In The United States, An Archaeologist Makes An Average Of $64,982 Per Year.

Archaeologists In India Can Make Anywhere From $21,000 To $132,000 Per Year, Depending On Where They Work, What Kind Of Work They Do, And How Much Experience They Have.

Scope In The Field Of Archeology

Archaeologists Are In High Demand In India Because Of The Country's Rich Cultural Heritage.

Qualified Students Can Apply For A Wide Range Of Positions In Both The Public And Private Sectors. Archaeologists With A Post-graduate Diploma Can Seek Employment As Lecturers At Various Academic Institutions.

A Career As An Archaeologist Allows You To Work In Private Or Government-owned Museums, Where You Will Be Responsible For Preserving And Managing Artefacts.

Archaeology Jobs Are Available To Those Who Desire To Learn About The Human, Animal, Or Civilised History That Predates Them By Thousands Of Years. The Union Public Service Commission And Staff Selection Commission Conduct Exams For Government Sector Jobs. Working In Tourism As A Tourist Guide, Heritage Manager, And Interpreter Resource Person With An Archaeology Degree Is Possible. Graduates Of Archaeology Programmes Have Numerous Career Options, Including Teaching And Conducting Research At Various Academic Institutions.