What You'll Do

  • Study objects and structures recovered by excavation to identify, date, and authenticate them and to interpret their significance.
  • Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
  • Research, survey, or assess sites of past societies and cultures in search of answers to specific research questions.
  • Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
  • Describe artifacts' physical properties or attributes, such as the materials from which artifacts are made and their size, shape, function, and decoration.
  • Plan and direct research to characterize and compare the economic, demographic, health care, social, political, linguistic, and religious institutions of distinct cultural groups, communities, and organizations.
  • Compare findings from one site with archeological data from other sites to find similarities or differences.
  • Record the exact locations and conditions of artifacts uncovered in diggings or surveys, using drawings and photographs as necessary.
  • Assess archeological sites for resource management, development, or conservation purposes and recommend methods for site protection.
  • Gather and analyze artifacts and skeletal remains to increase knowledge of ancient cultures.

Essential Skills

Writing 4.25/5
Speaking 4.25/5
Reading Comprehension 4.12/5
Active Listening 4.12/5
Critical Thinking 4.12/5
Active Learning 3.88/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.75/5
Monitoring 3.5/5
Learning Strategies 3.38/5
Instructing 3.25/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.25/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.

Common styles

Intellectual Curiosity, Innovation, Attention to Detail, Adaptability, Achievement Orientation

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Written Comprehension 4.38/5
Oral Expression 4.38/5
Written Expression 4.38/5
Oral Comprehension 4.25/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.12/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Speech Clarity 4.0/5
Information Ordering 3.88/5

Technologies & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Adobe Dreamweaver Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe PageMaker Adobe Photoshop Age progression software Apple Final Cut Express Apple iMovie Applied Biosystems GeneMapper Archeological Sites Management Information System ASMIS Autodesk AutoCAD Automated National Catalog System ANCS C++ Data visualization software ESRI ArcGIS software ESRI ArcGIS Survey 123 ESRI ArcInfo ESRI ArcView Facebook

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Intellectual Curiosity (High importance: 5.0/5)
  • Innovation (High importance: 4.55/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.43/5)
  • Adaptability (High importance: 4.39/5)
  • Achievement Orientation (High importance: 4.36/5)

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How to Become One

This career requires extensive preparation, typically including a graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral) and several years of experience. Most professionals in this field have invested significant time in education and training.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

American Indian Policy Specialist Anthropologist Applied Anthropologist Applied Cultural Anthropologist Archaeological Field Technician Archaeological Technician (Archeological Tech) Archaeologist Archeologist Communication and Folklore Specialist Cultural Resources Specialist Cultural Resources Technician Egyptologist Ethnoarchaeologist Ethnologist Excavator Field Archaeologist Forensic Anthropologist Historical Archaeologist Medical Anthropologist Physical Anthropologist Policy Specialist Political Anthropologist Project Archaeologist Public Policy Specialist Research Anthropologist Research Archaeologist Researcher