What do Archaeologist do: Roles, Skills, Jobs, Salary

Archaeologists are professionals who investigate the remains of ancient civilizations. They research and find out insights about human history, and historical evidence. Archaeologist as a career has a lot to offer someone who enjoys challenges and has a strong interest in geography and history.

Popular courses to pursue in order to become an Archeologist are BA in Ancient History, BA in Archaeology, MA in Archaeology, MA in Ancient History, etc. The candidate can pursue Archaeology Courses after completing 10+2 with a minimum of 45%- 50% marks.

Archaeology has a good number of career opportunities. Candidate can work for the profile of Documentation Specialist, Assistant Archaeologist, Museum/Art Gallery Curator, Heritage Manager, Historic Buildings Inspector/Conservation Officer, Lecturer, Collector of Rare things, Museum Operator, etc. post completing the program. The average salary of INR 4,50,000 to INR 5, 50,000 per annum can be expected, which increases with experience and expertise. Check: Archeologist Salary

Table of Contents

What does an Archaeologist do
Roles and Responsibilities of Archaeologists
How to become an Archaeologist
Skills Required to Become an Archaelogist
How to Get a Job as an Archaeologist in India
Scope of Archaeologists in India

6.1 Top Job Profiles

6.2 Top Recruiters

What do Archaeologist do: FAQs

What does an Archaeologist do?

The list of activities performed by an Archaeologist are listed below for your reference,

Archaeologists are responsible for restoring the monuments and research about the country's historical heritage. They perform an interdisciplinary activity to investigate material created by earlier human cultures.
Archaeologists can be classified into different types, based on their job roles and responsibilities. Some of them are Urban Archaeologist, Pre-Historic Archaeologist, Marine Archaeologist, Environmental Archaeologist, Paleontologists.
As an archaeologist, one can investigate many components under the earth that have the potential to transform history. It's not a 9-to-5 job, and there's always something exciting around the corner.
Archaeologists travel to many locations and nations. These are generally deserted locations, maybe in the midst of the desert or deep within the mountains.

Roles and Responsibilities of Archaeologists

Archaeologists conduct surveys, research, and evaluations of ancient human civilization by visiting historical places. There are different types of specialization in Archaeology like Classical Archaeology, Field Archaeology, Bioarchaeology, Biblical Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, etc. The job roles and their responsibilities are explained below:

Archaeologists: Archaeologists visit the assigned project sites as needed, prepare a report on the subject and deliver it to senior management, along with supporting documents.
Documentation Specialist: The job responsibilities of a documentation specialist are giving administrative information about certain rare and ancient papers, currency notes, and antique letters with some supporting evidence.
Lecturer: Their primary responsibility is to communicate their understanding of archaeology with others, i.e. students, fellow assistants, or trainees, using appropriate evidence.
Historic Buildings Officer: Historic Buildings Officers are selected by the government to look after all of the city's/state's/ country's historical heritage. Their primary responsibility is to conserve and care for all sites and historic monuments under their jurisdiction. They are also in charge of the equipment's repair and upkeep.
Marine Archaeologists: Marine archaeologists, or underwater archaeologists, investigate the lives and cultures of people who lived and evolved along the coast. They also analyze and examine the wreckage of the ship.
Paleontologists: Paleontologists study and investigate the living forms that existed on our planet before the emergence of humans. They examine fossils to have a better idea of what life might have been like back then. Check Paleontology Courses

How to Become an Archaeologist?

Candidates who wish to become archaeologists can pursue either BA Ancient History or BA Archeology and later pursue master level courses such as MA Archeology for a better pay. Those who want to have a career in research can opt further for PhD Archeology. Check Archeology Courses After 12th
Admission to undergraduate courses in Archaeology or Ancient History is based on merit, after completing 12th standard with a minimum 45% -50% marks.
Admission to post-graduate courses is primarily based on undergraduate course grades. Candidate with a bachelor's degree in the appropriate subject with a minimum of 45 percent grades is eligible for the post-graduate courses.
The top Archaeology Colleges include Kerala University, Punjab University, Babu Banarsi Das PG College, University of Mysore, St. Xavier's College, Banaras Hindu University, Guru Gobind Singh Indra Prastha University, etc.

Courses to Become an Archaeologist

Course Name	Course Details	Average Fees
BA Archaeology	Eligibility: Completed 10+2 from a recognized educational board Course Duration: 3 Years Entrance Examination: Merit Based	INR 3,000 - 18,000
BA Ancient History	Eligibility: Completed 10+2 from a recognized educational board Course Duration: 3 Years Entrance Examination: Merit Based	INR 3,000 - 18,000
BA History	Eligibility: Completed 10+2 from a recognized educational board Course Duration: 3 Years Entrance Examination: Merit Based	INR 10,000 - 50,000
MA Archaeology	Eligibility: Completed Graduation in the relevant field Course Duration: 2 Years Entrance Examination: CET/ PET followed by an interview	INR 2,000 - 40,000
MA History	Eligibility: Completed Graduation in the relevant field Course Duration: 2 Years Entrance Examination: CET/ PET followed by an interview	INR 40,000
PhD Archaeology	Eligibility: Completed master's degree with 45-50% and qualified NET or SET Course Duration: 3 Years Entrance Examination: DUET, IPU CET, NPAT	INR 6,000 - 70,000

Skills Required to Become an Archaeologist

An archaeologist is a challenging career option, therefore requires an in-depth understanding of the subjects and practical expertise. The candidate should be capable of handling complex data and statistics and delivering appropriate conclusions and research. The skills required to become an archaeologist are mentioned below:

Field Work and Excavation Skills: Archaeologists need to go to the site or location for investigating as Proof is never found on paper; it is usually found someplace else, which means one has to dig, which means diving into the subject matter. One must examine the site/location as closely as possible.
Good Writing Skills: Archaeologists must conduct an extensive study and write reports and research papers. As a result, strong writing abilities are required.
Analytical Skills: Archaeologists must have good analytical skills as an archaeologist's primary responsibility is to research a topic that has many advantages and negatives, therefore you must condense all of your work, which means removing any unnecessary material and preparing some versions before finishing it.
Research Skills: Archaeologists need to visit project sites as a part of their job, study them in detail, prepare a report and present the research to senior management, along with supporting documents.
Communication Skills: Archaeologists must also be effective communicators since they must communicate their discoveries and study with other archaeologists and the general public.
Statistical Skills: After discovering Sculptures, Historical Stuff, or Ancient Idols, archaeologists need to estimate how many years old it was, not exactly, but approximately. The calculation is significant. You must compare it to other findings and form an opinion based on that comparison.

How to Get a Job as an Archaeologist in India?

A candidate who seeks a career in Archaeology should have a degree in Archaeology, Ancient History, Cultural Heritage, or other relevant fields. Apart from this some of the other factors that must be kept in mind for aspirants seeking jobs in the field of archaeology are listed below,

Along with the course, candidates can also do internships, research paper writing, or assisting with some research work. This will provide an edge over others.
The candidate can also go for a master's degree in archaeology. The master's degree in Archeology provides complete exposure and helps to understand the benefits of Archeology as a discipline.
Candidates can also go for certificate and diploma courses, but these courses will not help in getting good job profiles.
One must have a basic understanding of English, history, math, and science. Along with the subject knowledge, good writing skills, communication skills are also needed to effectively write reports or research papers and communicate their discoveries with other archaeologists & the general public.

Scope of Archaeologists in India

There is a good number of career opportunities post completing the course in Archaeology as the demand for a trained and competent archaeologist is growing all the time in India and across the globe.
Candidate can work for the profile of Documentation Specialist, Assistant Archaeologist, Museum/Art Gallery Curator, Heritage Manager, Historic Buildings Inspector/Conservation Officer, Lecturer, Pre-Historic Archaeologist, Marine Archaeologist, Paleontologists, etc.
Upon completing a course in archaeology, the candidate can expect an average salary ranging between INR 2,50,000 to INR 5,50,000 per annum, depending upon the qualification and experience of the candidate.
Salary increases with experience and expertise. Archaeology will continue to have faster-than-average job growth in the future and will have ample opportunities to explore and grow.

Top Job Profiles

There is a wide range of job profiles in archaeology like Documentation Specialist, Assistant Archaeologist, Museum/Art Gallery Curator, Heritage Manager, Historic Buildings Inspector/Conservation Officer, Lecturer, etc.
The average archaeologist salary in India ranges between INR 2,50,000 to INR 5, 50,000 per annum.
Candidates with a master's degree and industrial exposure can get high-paying job profiles. The hike in salary comes with knowledge of the field and practical expertise.
One can expect a handsome salary after 3-5 years of experience in archaeology.

The detailed salary package for the job profiles in archaeology is given in the following table:

Job Profiles	Salary (INR)
Documentation Specialist	INR 3,60,000
Museum Officer	INR 3,00,000
Assistant Archaeologist	INR 4,00,000
Paleontologist	INR 7,00,000

Top Recruiters

Candidates pursuing archaeology as a career have excellent employment opportunities. The archaeology sector is growing rapidly and hence want people with good subject knowledge and practical expertise. There are immense opportunities in both the public and private sectors. The top recruiters for Archaeologist are mentioned below:

Government and Private Museums
Colleges and Universities
Indian Council of Historical Research
Archaeological Survey of India
Cultural Galleries
National Heritage Agencies

What do Archeologists do: FAQs

Ques. Which are the top colleges for MA in Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology in India?

Ans. Some of the good colleges for MA in Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology in India are mentioned below:

Banaras Hindu University
St. Xavier's College
Kerala University, Department of Archaeology
Madras University
Indira Gandhi National Tribal University
University of Calcutta

Ques. How good is a career as an Urban Archaeologist? What are the job responsibilities?

Ans. Urban Archaeologist as a career has good growth and many opportunities. Marine archaeologists, sometimes known as underwater archaeologists, investigate the lives and cultures of people who lived and evolved along the coast. They also analyze and examine the wreckage of the ship.

Ques. How can I become Archaeologist in Canada? What is the eligibility criteria there?

Ans. Yes, you become an Archaeologist in Canada. To pursue a course in Archaeology, you must have completed high school and have at least a C+ in English (differs in different colleges). In the case of BSc, high school mathematics and science marks are also necessary. You can opt for courses like BA Archaeology, BA Mediterranean Archaeology, MA Archaeology, BSc Mediterranean Archaeology, BSc Archaeology, PhD Archaeology, etc in Canada.

Ques. Are the certificate courses in Archaeology worth doing? Mention some of the certificate courses in archaeology?

Ans. Certificate courses can help you achieve an entry job, but the certificate courses are not enough to build a career in archaeology. You should consider a bachelor's in archaeology for a promising career. Some of the best certificate courses in archaeology are mentioned in the following table:

Certificate Name	College	Duration of course	Fees in INR
Certificate Course in Architecture and Sculpture	Poompuhar College	1 Year	1,200 INR
Certificate in Archaeology	Uma Arts & Nathiba Commerce Mahila College	1 Year	2,500 INR
Certificate Course in Epigraphy	Poompuhar College	6 Months	4,000 INR

Ques. Mention some of the best institutes in the United States that offer courses in Archaeology?

Ans. Some of the best institutes in the United States that offer courses in Archaeology are mentioned below:

Harvard University
Boston University
Stanford University
George Washington University
Penn State University

Ques. Mention some of the best colleges for MPhil in History. What is the estimated fee for the course?

Ans. The average fee for MPhil in History is INR 1,00,000, the fees can slightly vary depending upon the college you take admission in. Some of the best colleges for MPhil in History are:

Sambalpur University
Madras University
Awadhesh Pratap Singh University

Ques. How to take admission in International Certificate courses in Archaeology? Mention some of the best international certificate courses in Archaeology.

Ans. One takes admission in any International Certificate courses in Archaeology after completing schooling from any recognized board. No entrance examination or interview is required for admission. Candidates can directly apply for the courses, they wish to take admission in. Some of the best international certificate courses in Archaeology are:

Course	Provider	Duration	Fees In INR
Archaeology in Practice	University of Oxford	3 Months	35,000 INR
Vada Volaterrana Archaeological Field School	University of Pisa	3 Weeks	1,00,000 INR
Archaeology- PG Certificate (With Optional Specialism)	University of Leicester	9 Months	2,00,000 INR
Maritime Archaeology	Aarhus University	3 Weeks	1,25,000 INR
R4Rchaeologists	University of Pisa	2 Weeks	50,000 INR

Ques. What are the eligibility criteria to take admission in Doctorate courses in Archaeology? What is the fee for the course?

Ans. Candidates wishing to pursue a Ph.D. must hold a Master's Degree in History, Archaeology, Ancient History, Sociology, Museology, or an equivalent degree from a recognized university or institute in the nation, with a minimum score. The average fees of the Doctorate program in Archaeology ranges between 50,000 INR - 1,50,000 INR, depending upon the college one takes admission in.

Ques. Which is better the archaeology course offered by Udemy or Coursera?

Ans. Udemy offers archaeology named 'Bible and Archaeology through a Tour of the City of David' whereas Coursera offers 'Roman Art and Archaeology. Both the courses are good if compared based on content. You can refer to the table given below for the detailed comparison between both the courses: