What jobs are available after studying archaeology?

You plan on or are already studying archaeology. Most of the time the first thing that comes to mind is an archeologist on the other side of the world performing an archaeological excavation to discover a new historical treasure. But is that the only path?

Beyond field research,
what else can you do
with a degree in archeology?

Studying archaeology can lead to a greater variety of professions than just field research. It offers you several ways to widen your personal and professional horizons.

Before getting to the different options after your studies, let’s start with the question “what is archeology?”

According to the definition of the theory of mediation taken from Wikipedia, archaeology is the scientific discipline whose objective is to study human beings using material remains (both artifacts and archeological features) that the human being left behind. In other words, it’s about understanding human history through technical productions (raw materials, tools, community, uses, etc.).

1. Specializations

• Period-wise, there is a large range from pre-historians who study specific periods of prehistory to contemporary archeologists who work on current times, as well as egyptologists who study Ancient Egypt or medievalists who work on the Middle Ages.
• Activity-wise, there are excavation technicians who work the whole year on excavation sites pertaining to different periods and cultures all the way up to the excavation directors who are in charge of one site in particular, as well as preventative operations managers who coordinate archaeological operations and the excavation technicians.

There are some core aptitudes that are important to highlight, such as “possessing a sense of observation, a critical mind, writing skills in both your native language and English if you are not native english, tenacity, a teamwork mentality, health and physical maintenance, and accepting the need to always be a student ready to train in new techniques and methods.”

An article on the research profession will be available from the table below. Now we are ready to discuss different professions that are linked to studying archaeology.

2. Professions tied to archeological studies

A degree in archaeology opens the door to professions in the field of scientific research and equally to professions related to communications, popularization of science, teaching, and commerce.

3. Preparing for working life

If these different opportunities widen your idea of what professions are available after studying archeology, we strongly advise that you find your track quickly. Indeed it’s important to know that each profession has its own specific requirements. Working as a scientific mediator in archaeology also requires knowledge of child, adult, or senior psychology which is specific to this profession. To work as an expert requires a law degree. In order to apply as a scientific journalist, you must have completed not only studies in journalism but also in archaeology. You are required to have a practicing certificate from your local government in order to work as a tour guide.

Even as a scientist, a career entails quickly becoming clear on your long-term professional goals. If you want to stay in the field doing nothing but excavations, a bachelor’s degree will suffice. However, if you wish to lead your own excavations or aim for an engineering post, a PhD is obligatory.

In France, for many other jobs, you must obtain additional certifications such as the CNU qualification from The French National Council of Universities to become a researcher/lecturer at a university. The same goes for working as a school teacher and the respective state certification exams.

The ArkeoTopia team has a series of articles to help you get a clearer picture of the expectations and prerequisites for each career in the list above. It’s a way of informing yourself and broadening your knowledge of the professional world of cultural heritage and its implications for today’s society.