Ten Years On: Advances in Archaeology

Faithful Reader Grace writes

I have a BA and an MA in Anthropology, and I worked from 1980 through 1996 in the field as a technician, supervisor, and field director for several organizations. Upon leaving the field, I became a stay-at-home mother and caretaker of my 95 year old aunt, and now with my daughter in school full time, I would like to get back into archaeology.

Obviously, some things have changed, primarily the use of computers since I left. What sort of applicable computer skills do I need to develop to become employable again? Are you aware of any websites, groups consisting of women reentering archaeology after a long absence? My specialty was in field work and I loved the logistics and thrill of leading crew on surveys, excavations, etc. Are there trends in survey or field work that have occurred since I left?

Fieldwork Trends

Well, Grace, things have changed quite a bit in the last decade, although square holes are still pretty much square holes. You probably can guess that since 1996, computers have taken over much of the data analysis and write up portions of archaeology. But the widespread use of global positioning systems, extremely high resolution aerial and satellite imagery, and the advance of remote sensing techniques have transformed survey and excavation techniques. Advances in Archaeology: Field Technologies is a feature illustrating some of these changes.

• Advances in Archaeology: Field and Excavation Technologies
• Field Techniques Techniques

Laboratory Trends

A huge raft of archaeological research has been conducted in the laboratory using new methods such as stable isotopes and DNA analysis. In addition, a fairly wide assortment of dating techniques are available today.

• Stable Isotopes
• DNA Studies in Archaeology
• Archaeological Dating Techniques
• Laboratory Analysis

Money, Safety, and Ethics

Money has gotten tighter, in general: the prevalance of mom and pop sized organizations has made it more difficult for larger firms to get contracts, and when they do, the budgets are pared pretty thin.

At the same time, safety issues are far more important than ten years ago, as are personnel issues such as sexual harassment and hiring practices. Ethical issues (reburial, indigenous peoples rights, collection strategies) pervade the field. With this there is a flavor of professionalism that I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at.

The laws regarding international archaeological research over the past decades have emphasized property rights, cultural resource management tradeoffs, and repatriation issues. It might be worth reading up on the laws before you get back to work.

The upshot of these three issues alone have done more towards professionalizing archaeology, making it a safer, more scientific, and more ethical science than it was as late as the 1970s.

• Safety Issues in Archaeology
• Ethics and the Archaeologist
• Global Legislation Affecting Archaeology

Support Groups and Contacts

The only support group I know of for women in the field of archaeology is the Women in Archaeology Interest Group, part of the Society for American Archaeology. I'd join the local archaeological society if I were you, including both professional and amateur if you have them in your state or province. That will get you back into the pool of people who conduct archaeology there.

My general suggestion would be to contact your former employers and go in and talk to them. A person with skills in people management and demonstrated writing ability will likely have a leg up on getting a job, even if your computer skills are a little rusty--but the only way to know for sure is to ask.

• SAA's Women in Archaeology Interest Group
• Organizations and Societies by Region (Smoke Pfeiffer)

Bottom Line

Personally, I think the last ten years have been exciting ones, accelerating the use of technology and professionalising the field. I'll be interested in what you think as you get back into it, Grace, so please stay in touch and keep us up to date.