Career as an Archeologist
Archaeology studies human past and present from the different remains and relics of the past that exist today. This is done methodically and involves analyzing existing data, bio-facts and carbon-dating. The artifacts and ruins are studied to understand more about what people’s daily lives looked like, what were the government structures, what were the languages and tongues spoken and other interesting aspects of their culture and civilization.
Archaeology branches out further into different studies like Bioarchaeology (study of human remains), Zooarchaeology (study of ancient animals), Paleoethnobotany(study of ancient plants), Lithics (study of stone tools) etc. There is also underwater archaeology that studies materials at the bottom of lakes, rivers and oceans, for example the remains of ancient shipwrecks or submerged islands.
Archaeologists find evidence based on which they will decide on the sites and locations to excavate and dig at. Once that is determined, they use scientific sampling to decide where to dig on the site. The findings dug up from the site are then recorded, categorised and interpreted. Most archaeologists in India work for the Archaeological Survey of India.
Tasks of Archeologist:
1) Investigate artifacts and structures found during excavation to recognise, date, and authenticate them as well as to decipher their significance.
2) Investigate, examine or evaluate the locations of past communities and cultures to find answers to specific research questions.
3) Create reports on the findings and methodology of site work like site history, artifact analysis results and recommendations for conserving or interpreting findings.
4) Present any findings or discoveries from archaeological research to peers in the field as well as the general public.
5) Manage archaeological sites’ resources, development, security and conservation efforts.
6) Create archaeological simulations of what a product or site could have looked like in the past using computer programmes like computer-aided design (CAD) and geographic information systems (GIS).
7) Teach archaeology at colleges and universities.
How to pursue Archeology in India:
* To pursue archaeology, you can start with your choice of bachelor’s degree. There is no requirement to pursue any particular stream like humanities in the 12th grade.
* For your bachelors, you can choose to complete in Archaeology or History.
* This must be followed up with an M.A. or PGDP in Archaeology. One can also pursue an M.Phil. in archaeology for even better skills and job opportunities in the field.
