The truth about archeology?

Question

I'm going into my second year of college as a business major (simply because I can't think of any other career path that makes that sort of money besides medical). I've been interested in archeology and other careers like this since I was a child, but I'm not sure if my desire for this is incorrect. At first, when I was a kid, I used to love dinosaurs because of the Jurassic Park films. I knew almost everything a ten year old could possibly know about them, and was sure that I wanted to enter the field. The same thing happened every time the media was flooded with this "pseudoarcheology" that put thoughts into my head that the career would be filled with adventure and thrills and new discoveries. I've always been sort of a thrill-seeker, bored with standard stuff, but I'm really worried about getting a job/salary if I drop business altogether and try to study history or something. Does anyone have experience as an archeologist who can clarify some things about it?

Answer 1

Find a field school or check out the volunteer sites on the web. There are several means that will let you go out and dig holes.

Find a volunteer job and,If you like, it speak to the archaeologist in charge about the money and jobs in the field.

How do you want to spend your summer vacation?

Answer 2

I've worked as a professional archeologist, as both field director and field technician, in the Midwest USA.  The work is long, laborious, and tedious at times but can be pretty fascinating as well.  Of course, working in extreme weather conditions is part of the job, living in hotels as you move from place to place, it is almost like living as a migrant worker.  Archeology is never like the Indiana Jones movies, and very little adventure is to be had within the the context of American archeology.

I have moved on to teaching in China, to get a little of that 'adventure' back in my life.  I will probably return to archeology in the future, but haven't decided as to when.

If you are only interested in money, you will be disappointed in the field of archeology.

Cheers,

JZ

Answer 3

You are waiting your time and money in college.  Quit school, travel some, take odd jobs here and there to find out what you really want. You can always go back.

Answer 4

First, archaeologists don't dig up dinosaurs. Archaeologists research and excavate human cultural sites. better do some more research before you change majors.

You probably won't have much trouble getting a job in archaeology, but it will be as a field tech (aka shovel bum) and will not make a lot of money, even if you have a bachelors degree. You should get your degree if you want to be taken seriously as an archaeologist, though many places will hire you for cultural resource management jobs without one as long as you've done a field school.  and you will be living out of hotels for a long time.

not that long ago I graduated with a degree in anthropology, minor in archaeology. worked as an archaeologist for a while. immediately wished I had taken more business classes.  Now I work in sales. you really gotta love it if you want to do it. The work can be mind numbing at times.

Answer 5

One thing Spielberg got wrong in the films; we now know the raptors had feathers.  They were the first birds.