Faithful reader msgordon posted this question on the bulletin board:
I'm not sure if a career in Archeology is simply unrealistic at this point, or if my efforts would be better spent in another avenue. ... What [do] you seasoned professionals out there feel is your role in today's world[?]
You bring up some legitimate points. I'm no longer a working archaeologist--I'm a writer, and so my goals have shifted.
I would say, as a working archaeologist as part of a cultural resource management project, I was working to take my part in the discussion about what archaeological sites are important to preserve. The CRM profession is widely denigrated in academic circles--but I think that's wrong, I think that misses the whole point about CRM, which is to work out what the best thing to do about competing needs of resources. Here's a definition of the work that may or may not help get to what I'm talking about:
Cultural Resource Management: A Definition
Now, as a writer, I have an different role. I feel that my role is to put cultural research into the public eye that otherwise wouldn't get there. Most archaeological research that gets into the mainstream press is the most expensive gold like-stuff, or the very oldest whatsit or the most odd thing in the past. I know there's lots more interesting things than that to learn about the past--I read about it in academic journals every day.
But, bottom line: My colleague Brian Fagan believes that the most important thing an archaeologist can contribute to the current world, is a study of adaptation to climate change. I can't argue with that.
- Read msgordon's post
Please feel free to comment or respond to this thoughtful posting.
Comments
It is all about the dream, isn’t it. If that is your dream, why are you giving someone else permission to limit your future. Don’t give up! Why settle for less that what you dream about? Where would the world be without those individuals who dream big and then work hard to achieve.
I am 59 year old retired teacher and will be entering college again to pursue a degree in Archaeology. To paraphrase Alfred E. Newman Why Not? Give up and get old? NEVER FOREVER
I’m an archaeologist and I love archaeology. Sometimes, it even loves me back. I follow my career path in archaeology because of that love, not necessarily because archaeology has any great benefit to the world (although I think it does).
As a person, though, I try to sincerely do the right thing, whether it’s related to my career or not. That’s some sort of a labyrinthine process, and I’m not always correct about what action to take, but I try to learn from my experiences and do better the next time. I still have a lot of learning to do.
That’s the key to anything, whether archaeology or just living life. Always learning, refining, and practicing.
If you’ve found archaeology to be your passion, go ahead and follow it. There’s nothing that says you can’t be an archaeologist AND have a positive role in the world.
Thank you for your encouragement and thoughts.
I do agree with Kris that Cultural Resource Management does deserve more accolades for it’s role in getting the public interested in and educated about the history of past cultures, and I would like to hear more of the ethical and practical dilemmas from those working in that field.
I am particularly intrigued by the notion of studying past human adaption to climate change. I have always been interested in how different human groups manage (or mismanage) their natural resources, and how that ties in to their ideological relationship to nature, but I agree with Brian Fagan, that studying how changing climate has been dealt with in the past is particularly relevant now that we are facing climate change on a global scale. After all, our very physical evolution and cultural adaptations to live in a multitude of environs all over the planet have been somewhat spurred by climate change. Thank you for this great perspective. Again, I put it to readers to offer up what you believe to be your ethical role and purpose as an archeologist is in the grand scheme of things, especially in today’s “climate.” What I am trying to find persoanlly is how I can best apply my passion (archeology) toward improving the social, political and environmental state of the places I work in. Not too big a task, I hope!
I took a specialist degree in Archaeology in University, but now find myself working as a receptionist in the Transportation field. I loved-loved-loved studying archaeology, but realized that the career side of it wasn’t for me.
One of the things that fascinated me when I was studying was sustainability in early cultures. This ties into the climate change adaptation perspective, and made me realize that now more than ever is the time to start looking back and seeing what happened in the past when things started a changin’. Prehistory reeled me in, and I find it is an area that few ‘everyday’ people really understand and appreciate.
If you want to change the world, archaeology ain’t a bad place to start.
I think MSGordon brings up an excellent concern! I recently completed my undergrad with a major in archaeology…and in the midst of graduate school application season, I continually ponder, in MSGordon’s words, “how I can best apply my passion (archeology) toward improving the social, political and environmental state of the places I work in?”
To this end, I find that archaeological research, though in many ways a science, is much more akin to the humanities in its practical value to society. Like philosophy or art, I believe archaeological knowledge is a subtle, yet fundamental part of our current knowledge economy.
With this in mind, I think the problem for someone contemplating a career in archaeology is not whether the current practice of archaeology as it is structured through academia and/or crm contributes to our largely market-based economy, but how, and with what return to the person who invests their resources into pursuing such a career?
The painful answer is that because so much archaeological research is supported through our crumbling, troubled post-secondary educational institutions…a career in academic archaeology is an enticing fiction, or for the “lucky”, is like walking on a tightrope for as long as you have the stamina.
CRM, because it is more directly embedded in our market-based economy, is less ‘sexy’ (according to many), yet in this sense, more ‘relevant.’
To put it another way: archaeological knowledge is valuable and relevant, but those who produce are neither to our current market and technology-based economy. If you are okay with that, and don’t mind debt (unless you are well off)…do it.
It is about your “dream”. I was able to follow that dream from academia to contract archaeology to CRM- all of which culminated in my book Homeland- a semi-memoir with gleanings from pure research and CRM-a 40 year career this on-going. All of this culminates in the book with the concept of what a home is and how people from the Ice Age to modern times adapted via culture-technology-environment. I am now able to diffuse this concept from junior high to adults through talks and demonstrations.It wasn’t always easy (oftentimes had to take a straight job to support my habit), some comprimises for sure but all worth it in the end.
Hi, I am an archaeologist for some years now and I definitely know that archaeology is a sadistic lover – she loves to put you in really sad situations (sometimes), she slaps you hard (it hurts), she doesn’t bother to care for you, but the best part is she always wants us to say I Love you………. always.
It is all about patience, if you have patience you can dare to have a girl like archaeology and love her what a beauty she is.
We Indians believe in karma, and hence if you have done something to deserve archaeology, you will love the subject, otherwise you won’t…..however hard you may try… she will escape you.
Hope you understand, and I don’t care if you don’t….. I don’t expect you to as you might not have loved archaeology the way I do.
I am 54 years old and looking to retire from a life of working in jobs I didn’t like, so I can pursue my passion for archaeology.
I have spent the past 6-7 years studying archaeology and have completed my Grad. Dip. and am about to complete my Masters degree. All being well, I hope to start my PhD mid next year.
Whilst I have had a passion for archeaology and the ancient past since a small child, I have only recently studied about it, having completed several degrees in other ‘paid work’ subjects in the past.
My only regret in doing my studies in archaeology now is that I didn’t do them much sooner.
I now have four challenges to overcome in getting a job that I want in archaeology:
- my age – it’s not easy to get an entry level job in academia at 54;
- my location – I am 12,000 kilometres from the country I want to work in (and learn more about)and I have a family to consider, so moving isn’t an easy option;
- my language skills in the particular language – basic, slowly improving, but still not good and my grammar is atrocious; and
- money – yep, the main reason I have been doing other things all these years and still a problem now.
However, being a stubborn old coot, I still persist with the dream.
Why?
Because I believe that the people I want to study more about, deserve to gain their position on the world stage – just like the ancient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Chinese, Mayans and Incas.
The story of these people – the ancient Magyars – is just as fascinating, awe-inspiring and important to the world, as any of the above or others.
And as a stubborn old coot, I intend to tell it.
Let’s not forget also that the Egyptian, Italian, Greek, Mexican and Peruvian economies rely in large part on their ancient history to bring in tourists – as do many other countries.
So why should archaeologists take a back seat when it comes to economics?
We should be out their fighting for the recognition our work deserves.
Let’s not forget how Zahi Hawass got his very well-paid job and made Egypt a place everyone wants to go to – he pushed and pushed and pushed and keeps pushing.
Without people like us with a passion for archaeology, many countries would be much poorer in every way (money included).
So, my goal is put the ancient Magyars on the ‘map’ of world archaeology, right up their with the Egyptians etc.
Will I succeed? Who knows. But my most important challenge is to try.
Cheers
Sylvia
GREAT NAMASKAR !! TO ALL MY LOVELY ARCHYS OUT THERE..
I AM FROM INDIA, AND ENJOY PRIVILEGE OF A RICH CULTURAL & ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND IN THIS COUNTRY.
BUT I SADDEN WHEN I SEE THESE LEGACY BEING IGNORED BY MANY. AND I WANNA BECOME ARCHAEOLOGIST TO PROMOTE MY COUNTRY AND ITS GLORIOUS PAST.
I RESPECT ALL YOUR COMMENTS, AND WISH TO DO SOMETHING FOR MY COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, TO BRING OUT THE HERITAGE OF US HUMANS, AND MAKE OTHERS SEE WHAT LAYS BENEATH US ALL…
I WISH TO MAKE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO PROPEL
MY MISSION OF LIFE !!
LETS WELL-COME THE ALIENS TO OUR WONDERFUL EARTH !!
WELL WELL, I HAVE READ ALL THESE COMMENTS, AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR UR WONDERFUL COMMENTS
AND SUGGESTIONS.
WISH ME GOOD LUCK AND KEEP SUGGESTING.
MIke Kimber: Well said, and good for you. I am having the same feelings. I graduated with a BA in archaeology 25 years ago, and then found myself working in the IT field. Something was always missing in my life, and now I realize just what that is. I did not follow my dream. I find history and archaeology fascinating, but I also should have stuck it out and pursued more of it. I ended up working in jobs that just did not interest me…how boring is that?
I am in a bit of a financial conundrum at the moment, but feel that I will have that all straightened out by the end of this year. Then I will refresh a couple of academic skills at night-school and be right back in archaeology again next year. A professor at my old alma mater has suggested that I apply for entrance into a PhD program and apply my IT skills to this endeavour. Absolutely right! I feel great just thinking about it…needless to say this is my dream and my passion…time to get back into it