r/AskArchaeology

Hello!

i was wondering why people talk about the nature of "shovel bums" and being out in the field as a bad thing, people constantly are talking about hoping to spend less time " in the field" and do more management roles, why is this?

also, if you are an archelolgist I would appreciate your knowledge on the following questions
how much did you get to travel?

is travel paid for by the company?

is there often overseas work, or all regional?

So I’m starting my new job as a field tech very soon for a large nationwide archaeology firm (U.S). I’m still a bit confused as to how the little details around travel and reimbursement work.

I get 50 dollars per diem for food and things like that (though I’m still not sure how that money will get to me). My travel and hotel are also paid for. One thing I’m a bit confused about aside from the per diem is how things like gas for travel or Ubers to airports fit into that. I was told that I need to keep receipts of these expenses and I’ll get reimbursed by the company. This is a bit strange to me and I’m hoping I can keep track of all these things. It’s also a bit daunting because I basically have no money right now, I’m a new college grad and my accounts are sparse.

Any on call field techs navigate a situation like this? Was it difficult or does it just sound more confusing than it is? I’ll likely reach out to HR and try to get more specifics before my start date, it’s a bit of information overload right now in the onboarding process.

I’m planning to study prehistoric archaeology at bachelor’s level in Germany. Which universities would you recommend? What are the best options?

I have recently started to enjoy reading articles about escavations of human skeletal remains. Now I want to learn human history if possible with their archeological discovery stories included.

Stationary pots can be covered in clay or fabric, but I'm more curious about the sort of containers that a person might carry around with them where you need a strong seal. I know bison bladders, waterskins, and gourds were common ways to store liquid in the past, but how would they have been sealed to contain the liquid? Cork is the obvious choice today, but those trees have a fairly limited range, just around the Mediterranean, but bison bladders were common among plains peoples in North America so they must've been using something else.

Are there more widespread trees which might be chosen? Are there other materials that would make a good stopper besides wood?

This sounds weird but I don’t know how to phrase it. Last summer, I got a dream internship in archaeology which is objectively cool as hell! I was hype all summer while doing it but a lot of my coworkers were miserable and complaining the whole time. It was really the only thing that made it difficult. I figured ok, it’ll probably be better when I get a job in the field! No! I don’t know what to do.. my coworkers, supervisors… even my bosses complain about the work a lot? I have no idea how to approach it without seeming like a total asshole who’s like “just be happier!” Cus it’s obviously much more complicated than that but this is so much a field you don’t go into because it’s a last resort but rather cus ur passionate. I keep looking forward to finally meeting “my people” in the field who are equally as passionate about the work I do but they all seem so jaded and disinterested in the work :-( to the point that when I find artifacts they just complain cus it’s more paperwork. I don’t want to become like this!!!! Have other people noticed this?? Does it ever get better? Cus it’s not a oh, a few bad coworkers thing, it’s all the coworkers I’ve ever had to deal with now two years in a row!!

hi, I’m currently in highschool in America, but it has come the time to start thinking about collage. I want to major in arechology, and possibly aslo major in etymology/ linguistic. I would prefer collages in America that are good for the more human evolution/ very early civilizations side of arechology. I have been struggeling to figure out good collages and my school counslor hasent been much help. Thank you!

How can I become an Archaeologist with only a certificate program not a university college degree?

Get certified and join a dig?

I read an article that showed photos of some unuversity labs using 3d printers to make models of objects found at digs.

Thoughts?

Hello!
I am looking for further information on the "Birka grave Bj 581" as well as other ones. I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a list or an archive of all items found in the graves / with or withput pictures? I am having a hard time finding anything that detailed.

Any help appriciated!

I'm 26, Male, and I want to try my hands at archaeology. I've been learning a lot about history and just want to start trying more things in life, but, I don't have a college degree nor have not yet gone to college. Do I need to enroll into a college program, what would be the fastest way to do that to be able to do a dig if I only enroll temporarily to attend something sooner rather than later, or is there a way to do one of any kind without a degree? I don't know how delusional this might be, but that's also why i'm just going to take the risk and directly ask. I Should probably mention too I live in the united states, but I've basically found interest in everywhere I would just want to try the experience regardless of the site, and also, what does a more long term spot look like if possible at all?

Hi! I’m working on my degree in anthropology and lowkey considering double majoring in geology. I enjoy learning about human migration patterns and hear that GIS is in high demand. My geography program offers a lot of training in digital geography systems and whatnot and I’m curious if a geography major is very applicable and/or in high demand in archaeology! I’m at my first CRM job and it lowkey seems to be but idk

i'm going to field school in italy this summer and am looking for work boots, ideally steel toe. it's been hard finding women's steel toe work boots but i found a pair of redwing exos lite that seemed alright but the toe is aluminum and they're a bit expensive. does anyone have any recommendations? i can't really wear men's shoes because i have very small feet (women's size 6)

Attending my first field school this summer. Im excited to be attending the BVAR program in Belize for the 6 weeks. Hoping to make a career out Archaeology. If anyone has any tips for field school in general please share! Especially if you’re familiar with or previously attended BVAR in the past. Anything would help.

​

I (18 F) am going to start my BA in archaeology and museology (History, psychology, languages) course in about a month. Ive done a lot of research and I understand I have 2 pathways after my ug.

1. Do MA in Delhi/Pune deccan university

2. Get a job in India

(Maybe will even have to attempt UPSC to get a government job.)

(Or somehow join a private firm in India/ become a professor Who teaches the subject)

Option 2:

\- Do MA abroad. (Follow scholarships in Germany etc)

\-Start working there.

This is the only rough idea I have about my future. The more I research the more specializations i come across... I even came across an option to join NASA or join the UN as an archaeologist. There are way too many places to end up in and I Have no idea which path to take or how to take it. I need somebody to guide me.

Your valuable advice is appreciated, please help me out 🙏