Comments on: So You Want My Job: Archaeologist

By: Mason

Mason — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:22:57 +0000

I’m a high school senior, and I’ve been contemplating Archeology for a while now. I really want to go to Miami University (Ohio) with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Jewish Studies.

I can imagine myself sitting in the Negev desert digging up remnants of the great Davidian kingdoms of Ancient Israel…

Archeology is so poetic! I love it!

Great article!

By: Christian

Christian — Sat, 08 May 2010 15:30:25 +0000

I went the Ph.D route and left after completing the course requirements — in the dissertation planning process. I drank the Indiana Jones coolaide, fell in love with all the National Geographics, could spend days on end in museums (still do all of that actually). My specialty was East African Paeloanthropology. I did a stint at the Smithsonian, went to the top schools. Did my field school in Northern Kenya, went back during graduate work and lived with a tribe of hunter-gathers in Tanzania. I ultimately left for two reasons — 1) Theoretical problems with interpretation of hominid behavior. 2) Living and loving a career as an African Paleoanthropologist while living and loving a wife and family are not coexisting goals, CONTRA Tori’s advice above (if you, reader, are unmarried; you might not realize she doesn’t sound like a married person’s attitude at all). MONTHS incommunicado in some Very dangerous places, then back to the ‘job’ at a university (where I could put down roots) where I would spend long hours in research, teaching, writing… I knew many married folks both with Ph.D’s and steady University jobs, as well as grad students who are no longer married. Some still are and happy, but — Just sayin’.

The experience has provided me with endless awesome and melodramatic stories (chased off cliff by lioness, hippo tramplings, hunting giraffe with bow and arrow, carpet vipers falling out of rafters, bar fights with UN peacekeepers, etc.) to entertain my grandchildren; but in the end for me– The woman (still unmet at that point) WHO I SHARED my life with was more important to me than how I satisfied my own desires for adventure, creativity and fun.
It’s a great job if you go all the way for your Ph.D. — but if you try to ‘have it all in life’ you have to walk a harder tightrope than other careers.

By: The_republic

The_republic — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:11:42 +0000

I finished up my Archaeology Degree in Australia 4 years ago and had a wonderful time on digs across the country. I’m now on a completely different career path and have found that the lessons I learned in my Degree help me every day. Anyone wanting to do Archaeology should be encouraged as most of you know the skills you learn are invaluable even if you don’t spend your life on Digs.

By: oak computer desk

oak computer desk — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:33:53 +0000

I can’t say as though I have ever wanted to be an archeologist, though Indiana Jones does make treasure hunting look fun. It sounds as if the career choice is great for someone who likes to travel and be outdoors and for the right person I say more power to you.

Jesse

By: Mason

Mason — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:05:14 +0000

Well said Tori.