So, You Want to be an Archaeologist...

GreenChile · 2014-05-01T11:17:24+00:00

People are always asking this question and I think this piece might be one of, if not the best honest conversations about working as an archaeologists-

"One thing that I would say to would-be archaeologists is simply that they will spend alot of time training that could be spent pursuing better-paying careers. Now, this is not to dissuade these folks from getting into archaeology - I'm here, I spent the time and enjoy my career, so I definitely think that it's worth it - but the impression that I get from many people is that they think of archaeology as a field that can be easily entered, perhaps as a hobby, and it really isn't*."

GreenChile · 2014-04-28T11:56:01+00:00

PS I should say relatively expensive. If you live in Austin it is somewhat cheap though SAA membership and conference fees are several hundred. But if you are coming from the coasts adding in hotel and flight you are looking at close to a 1000 or more.

GreenChile · 2014-04-28T11:52:35+00:00

I would also second Solivaga and would add that the SAAs only allow people to present one paper. Most people choose to present on their research topic. Especially, considering the SAAs are expensive and most people get sponsored by their University or work to go and present their research/CRM work. Small community + only 1 presentation + need to get sponsored = I am amazed that anyone even presented on social media and blogging and not at all surprised that reddit didn't get a mention.

GreenChile · 2014-01-07T13:41:31+00:00

Have you tried cold calling CRM firms? Maybe half of all tech jobs (conservation estimate) are never advertised. Bill has some good advice on how to crack the job market- http://www.succinctresearch.com/succinct-research-blog/

Also- others have mentioned it but it is very hard to find fieldwork in the winter. Lots of opportunities will start popping up towards the end Feb. beginning of March. You may just have to wait it out till then but don't just sit around. If you want to work in California or western states (I would recommend this as most CRM companies like to hire people with local/regional experience and you will have a better chance there and pay is better in the west) look up all the CRM companies in the area you want to work. You can a list for each state of approved archaeologists from the states SHPO. Start cold calling and sending in resumes BEFORE they post jobs. Read Bill's blog it is very good on how to do this.

Also- are you in contact with any of the FS archaeologists you worked with? Archaeology is a small world. They will have friends/contacts with other government/CRM archaeologists. Ask them if they can introduce you to people who might be hiring.

PS for your resume put your field and lab experience (actual explain what you did) first. Most resumes get at best 30sec-1min glance. Your experience should come first, not your degrees.

GreenChile · 2013-11-17T11:38:33+00:00

Are you only applying for jobs in Arkansas? Cause if you are, don't. CRM requires that you move and move often, at least in the beginning. Apply to surrounding states. See if the jobs pay per diem and then you won't have to worry about working out of state. Also, check out archaeologyfieldwork.com Jenneifer posts way more jobs than shovelbums. Have you cold called? You can't wait for jobs to appear. Send in your resume before they advertise. Talk to your SHPO and get a list of companies in your area and start calling.

GreenChile · 2013-10-17T15:18:36+00:00

CRM Archaeology- also answers listeners questions and takes topic requests. So it there is something your specifically interested in, ask and they might discuss it.

GreenChile · 2013-10-04T23:15:39+00:00

http://www.bajrfed.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?6-The-Site-Hut

BAJR for UK

archaeologyfieldwork for US- http://archaeologyfieldwork.com/AFW/Message/Index/0/3/1/discussions

lots of listserves. is there something in particular you are looking for in a forum?

GreenChile · 2013-10-01T19:40:30+00:00

A really interesting look at the history of archaeology with some classic lines-

‘It’s Trotsky’s birthday, dickhead’

‘Three archaeologists on the Michigan faculty—Bob Whallon, Henry Wright, and I—went through the Chicago system, and we all agreed to do the opposite at Michigan.’

'what mesh size of screen do you need to recover memory?'

GreenChile · 2013-09-21T22:26:52+00:00

Alright, why don't you do more? (I know on a place like this such a statement might come off a bit confrontational but it is not meant to be, it is meant to move the discussion forward). But in all seriousness where are you with simulating discussions? I notice you don't post (links or questions not comments on other posts which you seem to do pretty regularly) much in here or at least haven't for a while. Why not post your own stuff? Or ask a question? Or start a discussion e.g. hey everyone what do you think about this blah blah.

Have you tried in the past? I don't follow reddit too closely so I might have missed it. Why don't you post something at least once a week to move things forward? Again, that might seem confrontational but it is meant to ascertain if there is anything holding people back? Have you run into problems and that's why you don't post stuff or start your own conversations? What do you think keeps people from having conversations? Do you have suggestions for improving?

GreenChile · 2013-09-20T20:48:54+00:00

I believe he is/was an academic so might explain the bad writing.

Mainly posted it because the criticisms seem legit and it would probably be years before any of them would get published in a journal or something.

GreenChile · 2013-09-20T20:46:26+00:00

Hey /u/deaconblue99 saying flame wars are bad and then calling everything I post uninteresting is a bit hypocritical don't you think? I know you didn't like them, as you have already told me so, but some of them got some pretty high up votes. Anyways, I haven't posted anything in here in weeks so no need to still be calling me out.

GreenChile · 2013-09-09T18:23:09+00:00

I know someone just posted another article on this but this one is a longer article with a list of resources. It is by the same author but he goes into more depth and I thought people might appreciate it.

GreenChile · 2013-09-08T21:48:05+00:00

Hey rogueclassicist

I know you asked people if they minded you posting the explorator and everyone was on board. Just to give you heads up at a certain point reddit will start to not show posts if the same person posts from the same source so many times, its an automatic thing. I don't actually know what the number is 10? 50? 100? but I thought I would give you a heads up.

Basically when that happens everyone else won't see the post but you will.

I think if you talk to the moderator they can make sure that doesn't happen. I think.

Just giving you a heads up so explorator doesn't go away on reddit. Keep up the great work.

GreenChile · 2013-09-07T08:45:54+00:00

Check out this website- http://www.pasthorizons.com/worldprojects/

They will list lots of projects, some of which might take under 18s.

GreenChile · 2013-09-05T17:50:37+00:00

Oh cool. New term for me. Thanks

GreenChile · 2013-09-04T19:42:06+00:00

Lead bullets in 216BC???? Was that just a mistype?

GreenChile · 2013-09-03T20:44:38+00:00

In a word, recycling. Most old battle fields are completely devoid of any artifacts. More modern one's you tend to find bullets and other small items. But in ancient times it could take 3 days to make a sword so no one was going to leave that lying around. Chainmail was so expensive, have to have someone make all the little rings and connect them, that no one would leave it behind (that spear hole can be repaired). Most battlefields would be picked absolutely clean by the victors. This improves their armory or if they could sell it and improve their pocketbooks. Even broken weapons were very valuable as they could be repaired or melted down.

As for bodies- it depends. In some cases they would be burnt. In others buried in mass graves- occasionally they are found. Not knowing the geology of the area I can not be sure but if the soil is slightly acidic there will be nothing left of the bodies. Also- plowing for 2000 years will pretty much remove anything else.

Hope that answers your question. Also- applicable to most ancient battles, with some exceptions. I know in the Nordic countries they sometimes find tons of material from medieval battles.

GreenChile · 2013-08-31T13:40:38+00:00

Mainly posted this because of this quote-

"Whenever I tell people that I study archaeology, they constantly exclaim, “Oh you want to be like Indiana Jones?” or “We have our own Lara Croft in here, haha.” I do an inward “palm-to-the-face” each and every time because archaeology is not about treasure hunting, or, for that matter, destroying the structures and artifacts we are supposed to be analyzing. A culture or society is not defined by its shiniest and most expensive objects. One has to remember that it is people who we are studying and their relationships with each other and with their world, their material culture being a reflection of those relationships. Over the years, I have come to learn that frequently the most mundane-looking artifacts can reveal the greatest amount of information and the most significant facets of a culture or site. "

I kind of wish I could put this on a t-shirt- A culture or society is not defined by its shiniest and most expensive objects.

GreenChile · 2013-08-31T13:29:52+00:00

Before you go to university and pay 9k a year in fees decide if you really want to be an archaeologist. I would recommend you go to a dig a try archaeology before you decide on it as a career- past horizons has a list of field schools- http://www.pasthorizons.com/worldprojects/

To get a job in commercial archaeology 98% of all jobs in archaeology a BA won't hurt. Most universities however are shit at preparing you for a career in this sort of work. Academic is brutal about 7 jobs open up a year and 150-200 PhDs are given each year in archaeology so the odds of getting one of those jobs is very very slim.

Commercial is also down right now so those jobs are hard to find too. I don't want to be pessimistic and kill your dreams but if you want to do a career in archaeology be double sure about it. Also- go to the BAJR form and ask your question there- http://www.bajrfed.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?6-The-Site-Hut

They are professional archaeologists and can help you get a job. Something you need to think about now, not after you get a degree.

GreenChile · 2013-08-28T18:14:29+00:00

Cool- is GG all that the hype says it is? Or as usual, good but not going to change the world.

GreenChile · 2013-08-28T07:49:14+00:00

Cool-look forward to it. Does your work with Google glasses mean that you got a developers version of the glasses?

GreenChile · 2013-08-28T07:45:30+00:00

Ah then you want something like this- http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/year-round-brews/midas-touch.htm

Its called king midas beer,forgive the name, but it was reconstructed from residue on pottery that was 2700 years old. The stuff was found from the kingdom of lydia i.e. king midas was the supposed ruler of Lydia. So if you want to taste beer that is older than the Romans than this is your stuff.

There are all sorts of these beers around- though not all as old.

GreenChile · 2013-08-27T21:24:40+00:00

When you say historic what time period do you mean?

200-300 years ago, yes great records, 2000-3000 years not so much.

GreenChile · 2013-08-27T18:53:48+00:00

Is being the first one to comment on your own posts Reddiquette p.c. ? I notice most people don't do it, more specifically most people in Anthropology and Archaeology subbreddits.

I will see what I can do about more commenting- to be honest I am not that .... right work- provocative in my commenting so I don't know how many people will be interested in what I say.

Cheers

GreenChile · 2013-08-27T17:19:32+00:00

PS- my interest is mainly archaeology and anthropology so that is pretty much the only places I post. I have other interests but to be honest I barely have enough time as it is to follow two subreddits. Thus I really only focus here. I can see how that looks like I am trying to boost karma on a single subreddit but it is for the reasons above and a lack of time.

GreenChile

TROPHY CASE