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When people find out that I’m an archaeologist, most of them think I have a pretty exciting job and are rather envious that I’m lucky enough to do something that I’m really interested in and, most importantly, enjoy.
I’ve been working in archaeology since 1996, and for me the most enjoyable aspects of my job are that I get to spend a lot of time outdoors and have the opportunity to visit so many different places and work on such a variety of archaeological sites.
I first became interested in archaeology when I was about fifteen, as it seemed like the ideal job for me as I loved the outdoors, and history was my favourite subject at school. As a result I joined my local archaeological society, bought a few general books on the subject and visited as many archaeological sites as possible. I then applied to study archaeology at university and got a place at Newcastle after achieving adequate grades with my A-Levels in Geography, History and English. Whilst at university I spent as much time as possible volunteering on a number of excavations, which enabled me to get work as a field assistant with an archaeological unit after I graduated. I continued working, mainly as a digger, in the North-East for the next three years, until I was offered a permanent post as an Archaeological Investigator with English Heritage, based in Cambridge and working throughout the South-East. I lived in Cambridge for the next five years, until I moved to Wales and joined the Royal Commission in 2004.
One of the best things about archaeology is that there is a wide range of jobs on offer, including excavation, survey, photography, conservation, finds research, illustration, museum work, planning control and education, to name but a few. One of the worst things, though, is that it’s a career where you’re unlikely to earn huge amounts of money, which is why it’s crucial that you have a real interest in the subject.
If you are interested in a career in archaeology there are a number of things you can do to find out if it is for you. You could join The Young Archaeologists Club, a UK club for 8-16-year olds interested in archaeology, or there may be an archaeological group in your local area which you could become involved with, or it may be possible to take part in a dig or do voluntary work in a museum. The website of the Council for British Archaeology has a number of very useful fact sheets about getting started in archaeology and covers issues such as qualification at 14+ and higher education.
Follow the links on this page to find out more.