What organizations help find volunteers for archaeological expeditions?

Question

I have seen these advertisements in archeology magazine....but I havent been able to get my hands on one in a very long time...

Any ideas?

Answer 1

As already suggested, you might have some luck if a local university has an anthropology department that takes volunteers on their digs. However, even if they do have digs going on they don't necessarily take volunteers. They usually offer field schools, where students pay money to get credit for working (and learning how to work) at a site. If you're not already a student in archaeology, or don't want the added hassle of getting accepted to a university so you can apply to the field school, you might have better luck contacting museums as they usually have more emphasis on engaging the public in their work on a volunteer basis.

A good place to start searching for fieldwork opportunities on the Archaeological Institute of America website (www.archaeological.org). This site includes field schools, opportunities for volunteers offered by various museums and institutes, and also things such as Earthwatch expeditions, where you PAY to volunteer.

A note about Earthwatch expeditions (www.earthwatch.org)--they charge you an arm and a leg to volunteer and I've been a couple sites where they USED to have Earthwatch volunteers in addition to the usual field crew, but no longer did, as the archaeologists involved had a developed pretty bad attitudes towards Earthwatchers from their experiences with them. I would definitely NOT recommend it if your interest is sincere and you want a quality experience, rather than being begrudgingly tolerated at a site because they need additional funding and so are taking Earthwatch's money.

Another site to check out: www.archaeologyfieldwork.com. Go to "volunteer opportunities" (it's the fourth forum down). There's a whole hodgepodge of diverse opportunities posted  by projects seeking volunteers.

And another one is Passport in Time (www.passportintime.com), a volunteer archaeology and historical preservation organization. Click on "current projects" to view have state-by-state listings which is convenient if you're in the US looking for something relatively close to home. Glancing at their website right now, they don't appear to charge money of their volunteers, but I could be wrong.

If you are a student in anthropology or archaeology, you can do a field school as mentioned, but you can also ask around and email someone who is doing work you're interested in. You could get on at their site and most likely only have to cover your travel costs to/from the site. That would certainly be less costly and the experience would be just as useful (and enjoyable). Most archaeology students do participate in a field school, but by virtue of being an archaeology student can sometimes get in without that previous experience, which, except with projects directed at public involvement, is sometimes difficult to do (we're not usually hurting for volunteers, and there is a minimal level of training necessary even if it is technically just digging in the dirt). Having aways been on a tight budget, that's what I managed to do:)

I suggest NOT paying a lot, if anything (with the exception of covering your living costs of course), for anything that isn't a field school. Even if you are not an archaeology student, there are projects directed at involving the public by taking on volunteers with an interest, but little to no background, in archaeology, and those are what you should try to find. It's ironic, but this is one case where you don't necessarily get what you pay for, and it would actually be beneficial to be frugal. If you have a sincere interest and genuinely want to contribute to an archaeological project, do not pay lots of money unless it's for a fieldschool. If you're being charged a lot of money, it's because they need money, not people, and though you'll be allowed to be there, but you won't necessarily be a wanted presence.

Good luck finding something:) If this is something you really want to do, there is most likely something out there for you! I apologize for the length of my answer!

Answer 2

the unluckycamel's answer is excellent and you should award her with a 'best answer' in my opinion.  I have one thing to add - check with your state or local archaeological society. Often, they conduct professionally supervised field experiences which offer a fun and friendly atmosphere and good, free learning experience.

Answer 3

Call your local University's Anthropology Departments!

They're always looking for volunteer help during the Summertime!

Answer 4

checkout shovelbums.org and take a fieldschool over the summer!