Part time archaeology

henry.shane

Hey people

i'm training to be a teacher at the moment but want to convert my degree (history) into a h-dip in archaeology with the idea of even doing a masters later on ( in ucl in England I figure). I hope to combine teaching with archaeology as we get a lot of free time in summer. Is this feasible? From what i hear its pretty tough finding such work at the moment.

I would love to join digs on the continent especially. Well am i deluded?

Bog Butter

The work in archaeology is heavily reliant on the construction industry. As we all know the boom in the construction industry has been unprecidented and as such so has archaeology. The current downturn has seen a dramatic drop in work.

There will always be a limited amount of work in archaeology and you would be in a perfect situation as you would not be overly reliant on work in archaeology. However getting started i.e the experience is always the hardest. There is a surplus of archaeologists at the moment. My advice to you would be to do some volenteered work for a few weeks in the summer, just to get your foot in the door.

A degree in history, which is a related subject, has up until now been sufficiant to gain work in archaeology. However if you are thinking you might one day persue a career in archaeology down the road then a h. dip or better still a masters would be recommended. This would make it easier to gain a excavation licence although strictly speaking you do not even need a qualification in archaeology to gain a licence.

I would hold off on getting a masters in archaeology until you get some experience. This will give you an insight into the industry and a chance to talk to some archaeologists. It would also give you a chance to see what you might specialise in.

Best of luck.

Stinjy

Hey, im intrested in archaeology but stil in school would there be digs coming up that people like myself could take part in?

Bog Butter

I suggest you email some archaeological companies saying you would like to do some volunteering for a week or so. Below are some links. Be persistant about it. Following up your emails with a phone call.

http://www.acsltd.ie/

http://www.adsireland.ie/

http://www.iac.ie/

http://www.crds.ie/

Stinjy

oh nice thanks for thoes

Bog Butter

I should also have mentioned this website http://www.bajr.org Go to the jobs section. This is a British archaeological jobs resource but it is used by the Irish archeological companies as well. In fact this is the primary Irish archaeological jobs resource. Now there have been no Irish jobs advetised there for a while now but keep checking.

Stinjy

ah tyvmI'll check all theese out and see what happnes!

wolfpawnat

I know a person working as an archaeologist for the NRA sadly no work going in Ireland at the moment, its all academic work. Pity I loved working in Archaeology, Even desodding in the pissing rain in non waterproof high vis gear beats a office/hotel job anyday!

Stinjy

yeah I'd well prefer to be out soing something like that in the pissin rain than to be looking out at the rain... it all seems like so much fun as a job, compared to working in an office, although i did do some work in the crypt of the National Museum of Ireland Kildare street which was alot of fun, looking for an empty drawer ie just lookin at what was in all of the others!:D