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Career Paths in the field of Archeology

Archaeology—what a field…! A major field in terms of prestige and significance (and not just since “Indiana Jones”), a small field in terms of the number of students and graduates. A humanities discipline, a historical science—and more! A field in which many influences from the humanities and more engineering-oriented disciplines successfully converge: (pre- and early) history, ancient languages and scripts, architecture and (building) art, geography (maps), geology (soil composition), as well as excavation and surveying techniques.

Specifically for archaeology, the following Career Paths arise:

Archaeology as a Modern Field

Far from being outdated: Archaeology has become a cutting-edge digital discipline! Existing knowledge is systematically digitized, artifacts are made accessible for all-around viewing using sophisticated 3D photography, and sites are identified and mapped using satellite imagery.

Archaeology is thus a discipline of knowledge, a field that is both hands-on and technical—and one that requires a certain talent: a knack for skillfully handling pen and paper, both analog and digital, is more essential here than in other humanities.

And since there is so much to learn and assimilate, students—both younger and older—groan about the long road one must travel in archaeology before being granted even a modicum of professional competence. And yes, there is still a strong trend toward pursuing one’s chosen educational path to the point where, after a bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, and habilitation, the path into the professional field of “Research and Teaching” at universities and institutes is at least open. But “Research and Teaching” is by no means the only path archaeologists can take.

Starting a Career with a Bachelor’s Degree

Even bachelor’s degree graduates have acquired enough of the skill set outlined above to pursue professional development in fields beyond “Research and Teaching.” However, since they must contend with competition from interns and more highly qualified professionals (Master’s, Ph.D.), particularly in Central and Western Europe, it is worthwhile to supplement their degree with targeted professional development and continuing education, including additional vocational training.

Bachelor’s graduates with additional vocational training as surveying technicians (a so-called self-organized “dual study program”) will likely be surprised by the unique and personalized career paths that may open up for them over time.

Higher Qualifications

However, beyond a certain level in this field, there is indeed an effect of “overqualification”: a faculty member with a postdoctoral qualification will likely have to communicate very clearly and explicitly why they wish to be involved in the analysis of satellite imagery at a planning office. In this context, a counterbalancing trend can therefore be observed toward specialized start-ups and self-employment, where archaeologists offer their expertise as Service Provision.

Preserving our history as a public or governmental mandate  

Some career paths in archaeology lead into the field of “Organization and Administration,” including public and state administration—that is, government agencies and offices. The primary focus here is on assessing whether a construction project (transportation routes, buildings, public spaces) would interfere with the “historical subsurface,” deciding whether the project can still be approved, and determining who is responsible for funding the preservation of the affected archaeological remains. Career entry opportunities, including those requiring additional training, will likely only arise here at the master’s level or, if applicable, the doctoral level. The career entry paths that were once common—involving internships and clerkships—could today likely be associated with the term “trainee.”

The official repositories—archives and museums—are naturally open to all individuals in the historical sciences, typically through the pathway of legal clerkships or internships.

For prospective graduates at all qualification levels, it will be worthwhile to also explore Career Paths in related disciplines, such as geography or cultural studies.

 

This information was compiled based on BERUFENET from the Federal Employment Agency. We thank Edgar Losse for the suggestion and support.