FAQs About Archaeology Careers

Careers

Frequently Asked Questions About Archaeology Careers in the U.S.

Table of Contents

What jobs are available for archaeologists?

What education and training are required to become a professional archaeologist?

What college or university should I go to?

What are some general introductory books on archaeology?

1.	Popular Books on Archaeology
2.	Textbooks on Archaeological Methods:
3.	Textbooks on Prehistory:
4.	Video and Film.

I want to go on a dig. How do I volunteer?

Where can I get more information on archaeology?

1. Pamphlets and Brochures

2. Educational Resources

3. Web Resources

4. Magazines

5. Societies

Acknowledgments

Click here for a print friendly version of these FAQs
6. Where can I get more information on archaeology?
Pamphlets & Brochures:
The federal government publishes a brochure, "Participate in Archaeology," that lists books and videos on archaeology. Write to Publication Coordinator Archaeological Division National Park Service P. O. Box 37127, Washington, D. C. 20013-7127.

The Society for American Archaeology has a brochure, "Archaeology & You" which is available for $4.00 shipping and handling from Society for American Archaeology (SAA) 900 Second Street N.E. #12, Washington, D. C. 20002-3557.

Pamphlets & Brochures,continued:

Careers in Archaeology from the Society for American Archaeology describes the training required to become a professional archaeologist.
Careers in Historical Archaeology from the SHA covers historical and underwater archaeology and provides information primarily on training and job opportunities in the United States.
A four page pamphlet, "Brief 343: Archaeologists," is available from Chronicle Guidance Publications, Aurora Street, P. O. Box 1190, Moravia, NY 13118-1190 for $3.00.
The Princeton Review Guide to Careers has a some information on archaeology as a career on the web search on "Archaeologist" or "Curator" at http://www.review.com/career/).

Educational Resources:

The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service have produced a series of twenty-two lesson plans ($8.00 each) called, Teaching with Historic Places. (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/home.html).

Contact Jackdaw Publications for ordering information and shipping charges at:

Jackdaw Publications
PO Box 503
Armawalk, NY 10501
phone: (800) 789-0022
fax: (800) 962-9101

or from the NPS order form on the web (http://www.cr.nps.gov/linkpubs.htm).

The National Park Service site Tools for Teaching (http://www.cr.nps.gov/toolsfor.htm) also provides access to educational resources on the web.

The National Museum of Natural History produces a free newsletter for teachers called Anthro Notes. For information contact:

P. Ann Kaupp
NHB 363
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC 20560.

Archaeology in the Classroom, edited by Tracy Cullen and Wendy O'Brien is available from the American Institute of Archaeology ($10.50 + $4.00 shipping and handling for nonmembers):

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Order Department
4050 Westmark Drive
Dubuque, IA 52002.

Everything We Know About Archaeology for You to Use in Your Classroom identifies for teachers some of the educational material that is available concerning archaeology and archaeological methods for use in the classroom. Includes a number of articles and essays on archaeology in school programs, in addition to lesson plans for teaching cultural history and site preservation.

Archaeology and Education: The Classroom and Beyond responds to the need for making information about archaeology more accessible to the public. Both are availabe from the National Park Service.

Write to:

Publications
Archaeology and Ethnography Program
P.O. Box 37127
Washington, DC 20013-7127
(202) 343-4101
Email: DCA@nps.gov

For web resources to help you learn about archaeology, visit John Hoopes "Introduction to Archaeology" Web site (http://www.cc.ukans.edu/~hoopes/anth110.html) and Kevin Greene's Electronic Companion (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/~nktg/wintro/) to his introductory text.

For web resources to help you learn about North American Archaeology, visit the Archaeology of North America, a web page organized around an introductory course in North American prehistory (http:anthropology.tamu.edu/archaeo.htm) or The Archaeology of North America by Kevin Callahan at the University of Minnesota (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/2596/index.html).

To stay up to date on the latest archaeological discoveries, visit Anthropology in the News a site that links you to current news stories concerning anthropology and archaeology (http:anthropology.tamu.edu/current_news.htm).

Web Resources:

Several comprehensive guides to internet resources of interest to archaeologists are now available:

Ancient World Web by Julia Hayden lists resources of interest to classical archaeologists. and prehistorians (http://www.julen.net/aw/).
Anthropology Resources on the Internet by Allen Lutins (http://www.nitehawk.com/alleycat/anth-faq.html).
Archaeology on the Net includes links to archaeology web sites and information on new books of interest to archaeologists (http://www.serve.com/archaeology/).
ArchNet - The most extensive listing of web resources related to archaeology (http://archnet.uconn.edu/).
The Atrium by David Meadows hosts the valuable "Ancient World on Television," "Commentarium" (links to news stories about archaeology), and the "Explorator" (an email list to keep you up-to-date on the latest finds) (http://web.idirect.com/~atrium/).
Internet Resources for Heritage Conservation, Historic Preservation and Archaeology by Peter H. Stott (http://www.ncptt.nps.gov/pir/ ).
Jennifer's Archaeology Website by Jennifer Hutchey. ( http://www.archaeologyfieldwork.com).
Yahoo! Anthropology and Archaeology (http://www.yahoo.com/Social_Science/Anthropology_and_Archaeology/).

The following world wide web servers provide additional information about archaeology or can link you to other archaeological resources on the web:

ABZU: Guide to Resources for the Study of the Ancient Near East (http://www-oi.uchicago.edu/OI/DEPT/RA/ABZU/ABZU.HTML).
Archaeological Resource Guide for Europe (http://odur.let.rug.nl/arge/).
Classics and Mediterranean Archaeology (http://rome.classics.lsa.umich.edu/welcome.html).
Egyptology Resources (http://www.newton.cam.ac.uk/egypt).
Exploring Ancient World Cultures (http://eawc.evansville.edu/).
Fantastic Archaeology A thoughtful examination of outlandish claims (http://www.usd.edu/anth/cultarch/cultindex.html).
A Guide to Underwater Archaeology Resources on the Internet (http://www.pophaus.com/underwater/).
LINKS to the Past (National Park Service) (http://www.cr.nps.gov/).
Maya Civilization--Past and Present (http://indy4.fdl.cc.mn.us/~isk/maya/maya.html).
Mining Company: Archaeology K. Kris Hirst is your guide to archaeological resources on the net (http://archaeology.miningco.com/).
Mystery of the Maya (http://www.civilization.ca/civil/maya/mminteng.html).
Seeking Sites Afar: Point of Reference by Wayne Neigbors has lots of current information on archaeological research (http://anthro.org/main.htm).
Southwestern Archaeology (http://www.swanet.org/).
World-Wide Web Virtual Library: Museums. Mirror at Illinois State Museum; (http://www.museum.state.il.us/vlmp/)

Magazines:

American Archaeology. A new quarterly journal published for members of the Archaeological Conservancy, 5301 Central Ave. NE, Suite 1218, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517 (http://www.americanarchaeology.com/aaabout.html).

Archaeology. Published bimonthly by the Archaeological Institute of America. Subscription Service, P. O. Box 420423, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0423, (800) 829-5122. $19.97/year for six issues (U. S. domestic rate; http://www.archaeology.org/).

Biblical Archaeologist. American School for Oriental Research, Membership/Subscriber Services, P. O. Box 15399, Atlanta, GA 30333-0399. $35/yr for four issues (U.S. domestic rate) (http://www.asor.org/pubs/nea/ba_index.html).

Biblical Archaeology Review. Biblical Archaeology Society. 4710 41st Street NW, Washington, D. C. 20016, (800) 221-4644. $13.97/year for six issues (U.S. domestic rate).

Current Archaeology. 9 Nassington Road, London NW3 2TX, UK, (44) 171 435-7517. $30/year for six issues (U.S. rate; http://www.archaeology.co.uk/).

Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Subscription Department, 9th Floor, 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158, (212) 850-6479. $36/year for six issues (U.S. domestic rate; http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jtoc?ID=38641).

Historic Preservation. Published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Membership Department, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1785 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 673-4166. $20/year for six issues including a membership in the National Trust (U.S. domestic rate; http://www.nthp.org/).

KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt. KMT Communications, 1531 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94115. $32/year for four issues (U.S. domestic rate; http://www.egyptology.com/kmt/).

Minerva. A British archaeology magazine. Minerva Magazine, 14 Old Bond Street, London W1X 4JL, UK. $33/year for six issues (U.S. rate).

National Geographic. National Geographic Society. P. O. Box 98012, Washington, D. C. 20077-9762. $24/year for 12 issues (U.S. domestic rate; http://www.nationalgeographic.com/).

Societies:

American Anthropological Association, Archaeology Section. Suite 640, 4350 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1621 (http://www.aaanet.org).

Archaeological Conservancy. 5301 Central Ave. NE, Suite 1218, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517 (http://www.americanarchaeology.com/aaabout.html).

Archaeological Institute of America. 656 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215-2010 (http://www.archaeological.org/).

National Trust for Historic Preservation. 1785 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington D.C. 20036; (http://www.nthp.org/).

Society for American Archaeology. 900 Second St. NE, Suite 12, Washington, D.C. 20002. (http://www.saa.org/).

Society for Archaeological Sciences. Office of the General Secretary, SAS, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521 (http://www.socarchsci.org).

Society for Historical Archaeology. P. O. Box 30446, Tucson, AZ 85751-0446; (http://www.sha.org/).

Society of Professional Archeologists. Has become the Register of Professional Archaeologists. Listing on the Register is offered through the SAA and SHA.

Numerous other archaeological societies and newsletters can be found in the "Directory of Archaeological Societies and Newsletters" by Smoke Pfeiffer (http://www.serv.net/~mallard/hr/archsoc.html).