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Job Description: Archaeologists study the origins and physical characteristics of extinct cultures. They look for items from places where past civilizations existed. They study the remains of homes, tools, clothing, and other evidence of life and activity. They examine these remains to determine the history and customs of those who lived at the "dig" sites.

Duties: Archaeologists may perform some or all of the following duties:

• Determine locations of fruitful "digging" sites
• Create a grid of each site by drawing, photographing, and updating maps of unit profiles, stratum surfaces, features, and findings
• Collect artifacts of stone, bone, metal and other relevant materials
• Place artifacts in bags and mark them with the exact location of the discovery site
• Clean, restore, and preserve artifacts
• Study objects and structures recovered by excavation to identify, date, and/or authenticate them and to interpret their significance
• Develop and test theories concerning the origin and development of past cultures
• Write, present, and publish reports
• Establish a chronological sequence for past cultures
• Assess archaeological sites for resource management and conservation activities
• Teach in colleges and universities

For detailed information on tasks, knowledge, skills, abilities, work activities, work contexts, job zones, interests, work styles, work values, and related occupations visit the O*Net Online, a division of the National Center for Occupational Information.

Working Conditions: Working conditions will vary depending upon the location of the particular task. Archaeologists may work many hours while in the field. This work is slow and exacting. Each article must be carefully dusted or washed, examined, classified, and mapped. When archaeologists are not in the field, they are usually teaching at a college or university.

Educational Requirements: This branch of the social sciences combines a broad understanding of history and prehistory with a natural curiosity about the past and how it relates to our present culture. The average archaeologist has a master's degree and has completed such coursework as ancient history, anthropology, ancient languages, geology, geography, and human physiology. A doctorate is preferred in this discipline. While in high school, students should take a college preparatory program. It will take a high school graduate approximately nine years to obtain a Ph.D. degree in archaeology. For additional information on education and training in this field, visit the Archaeological Institute of America online.

Outlook: There are 30 anthropologists and archaeologists in Tennessee. It is projected there will be an increase of 7 percent in this occupation through the year 2012 with few job openings annually. Competition is very keen for the few positions that are available. For additional information on this occupation, visit the nationally recognized Occupational Outlook Handbook online.

Salary

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor website
• TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development website
• Bureau of Economic Analysis website

For an explanation of salary data please visit acinet.org

Last updated on: January 23, 2008