Experience with Archeology or Forensic Science?

Question

i want a career in archeology or forensics science, if anyone has any experience in either please tell me more abou the career and what you do and dont like about it

Answer 1

I'm a contract archaeologist in the US.  It's a tough job, as the people above said. It's easier to find work if you're willing to travel a bit.  What's considered near and far take on a whole new meaning when you're a shovelbum.  I want to stay near home for the next project, which means anywhere from New York to North Carolina.  It's most likely that you'll spend at least some time doing short projects for different companies.  My current job ends in two or three weeks, and I don't know where I'm going next yet.  That's not too unusual.  If you don't like travelling or not being able to plan too far into the future, don't do archaeology.

I happen to like travelling, though, and living in hotels has its benefits as well as its downsides (I never have to clean bathrooms!).  I like working outside, and I'm pretty anal by nature, so the paperwork doesn't bother me.  Tediousness isn't as bad when you're in the great outdoors, rather than stuck in a climate controlled office under flickering fluorescent lights.  The pay isn't great, especially when you factor in the unemployed times, but it's not terrible.  And you do meet such characters.  It does wear on you after awhile, which is why the majority of contract archaeologists who do temporary work are in their twenties.  Most people start leaving after about 3-5 years, either to move to related, but more stable, fields, like geology or museum work, or to go back to grad school.  I'm hoping to get something a bit more permanent soon myself, with, like, benefits and such.  Permanent positions are available at CRM firms, but many of them don't hire too many.

Check out archaeologyfieldwork.com and shovelbums.org.  They're the two biggest sites for finding work, and they'll give you a good idea of what's out there.

Answer 2

I'm an archaeologist.....until someone else hires me to work in an office and give me benefits and retirement plan.....

in case you can't tell, I'm no longer as interested in archaeology as I once was. Something about sitting in a ditch all day in the hot sun, digging up dead peoples trash with a trowel, and keeping detailed notes in a fieldbook the whole time....I don't know, just doesn't do it for me anymore.  

I mean I do still like the work for the most part. I always enjoyed trying to identify artifacts....don't like the constant writing of notes and drawing maps/siteplans.....

I'm getting out of it mostly for the money...I can probably make entry level money in a different field equivalent to what an archaeologist with a masters would get digging ditches.

Answer 3

I have been a professional archaeologist for 20+ years. I have worked both in an academic setting and in the cultural resource management industry, and I have loved every minute of it, and made more than enough money to live comfortably.

As with anything in life, if you work hard and make sure that you position yourself well by getting the credentials you need to allow yourself to advance- with a little luck, you will be on your way to a rewarding career. By credentials - I am talking about - MINIMALLY - an M.A. from a well-recognized university. A PhD is a big step up, but it might not help you break into the field which employs 90+% of the professional archaeologists in the USA - cultural resource management.

Right now, the U.S. economy is in pretty bad shape. Both the CRM and acadmic fields will be hurting for quite a while. However, an industrious archaeologist with reasonable expectations and enought drive to offer a few temporary sacrifices, will likely be able to find a position in consulting (CRM) and ride the economic waves into the next eceonmic boom. Once that boom starts, advancement will be easier than it is today.