Archaeologist

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship

University

Most professional archaeologists have a degree and many also have a postgraduate qualification.

You can do a degree in archaeology or a degree that specialises in the different aspects of the work, like:

• conservation
• environmental archaeology
• human evolution
• forensic investigation
• archaeological science

You can search for higher education courses and see what the entry requirements are on British Archaeological Jobs and Resources .

Postgraduate qualifications can be particularly useful if you want to:

• be a researcher
• teach archaeology in higher education
• specialise in a particular area of archaeology

Entry requirements:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You could gain relevant skills through an archaeological technician advanced apprenticeship. Then you could move on to do an archaeological specialist degree apprenticeship.

The degree apprenticeship typically takes 36 months to complete as a mix of learning in the workplace and off-the-job study at an approved university.

You can look for vacancies with organisations like:

• local authorities
• national parks
• consultancies
• archaeological contractors

Entry requirements:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Volunteering

Competition for courses and jobs is very strong. It's essential that you get practical experience.

Local and regional archaeological associations often have programmes of field activities that you can join. You can look for volunteering opportunities through websites like the Council for British Archaeology .

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:

• an interest and knowledge of history
• the ability to work well with your hands
• knowledge of sociology and anthropology for understanding society and culture
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• persistence and determination
• excellent verbal communication skills
• analytical thinking skills
• concentration skills
• excellent written communication skills
• knowledge of geography
• the ability to read English
• thinking and reasoning skills
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to work well with others
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• active listening skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to learn through your work
• maths skills

What you'll do:

Archaeologists learn about the past by studying sites, excavating, classifying, recording and preserving objects.

You could:

• identify possible sites to study using aerial photography, field-walking and surveying
• take part in excavations or digs
• record finds and sites using photography, detailed notes and drawings
• identify and classify finds
• clean and preserve finds in a laboratory
• use laboratory analysis like carbon-dating
• use computers to produce simulations of the way a site or artefact would have looked
• preserve industrial artefacts and buildings
• check planning applications and identify the impact of development on archaeological sites
• make sure important sites, buildings and monuments are protected
• classify, display and look after artefacts in a museum

Location : You could work in an office, at a university, in a museum or visit sites.
Environment : Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and you may spend nights away from home.

Salary:

Starter : £21,100
Experienced : £36,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

38 - 41 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends flexibly

Career Path:

To support your career progression you may find it useful to join a professional body like the Chartered Institute of Archaeologists .

As an archaeologist you could work with commercial land developers, on public sector funded projects or in academic and specialist research.

With experience, you could:

• progress to a senior role like site supervisor or director
• become an expert in a particular field
• teach degree courses
• work as a freelance consultant