Is Archeology a feasible hobby? Or a well payed job?

RaulS1987

I cant deny I have a great passion for history and Archeology. It did come to mind quite a few times as something I might want to consider as a career. But I keep coming back to this:

- Archeology isn't really something you can get a job in? You either get financially backed by some institution to do research and get payed for this research, probably crappy pay unless youre a renowned scientist already?
- You hardly make a living?
- You get money by giving lectures, writing books, giving advice etc?

Yes money is an issue. You can say Archeology isnt for me then because you need a passion beyond money. Perhaps that is true. I just don't look forward to having a very meager wage for the rest of my life. I like to live comfortably.

Would Archeology be something you could take on as a hobby? Like, spend 2 months holiday on archeology? Perhaps be part of a research team, help out on research, if you have the money too go out and do your own research?
It seems to me you really cant help out unless you have a degree in it, otherwise people have no reason for you to 'hop along'. Unless you can back their projects financially and buy your way in?

Like underwater research / diving. Because if you have the analytic skills and 'wits' for it that could help out as well if you don't ask to be paid for your contribution?

/Discuss please.

Reply 1

ChemistBoy

I know a few archaeologists outside of academia and their pay is very low and they do it because they love it and they are generally working with teams of volunteers so they have to be good at training and have a lot of patience.

Reply 2

sweet_fluffy_nuke

RaulS1987

I cant deny I have a great passion for history and Archeology.

Get ready to spend the rest of your life in poverty

Reply 3

RaulS1987

Okay maybe not THAT great :wink:

Reply 4

Sephirona

Son_of_the_sun

Get ready to spend the rest of your life in poverty

A bit harsh aren't we ?
Anyway I think you shuold follow your dream. Money corrupts people and changes your whole lifestyle. Don't let money take over your mind, and do what your mind tells yuo to do. I know it seems corny but it is in fact true. Most people regret not following their passion, don't be one of them.

Reply 5

RaulS1987

What if my passion is having things, seeing places (antartica, kenya, cairo, etc.), owning things, being able to live well, yadda yadda. Along side a hobby passion of archeology. I'd rather follow the first dream I reckon. Money doesnt corrupt. People are already corrupted and money just gives that corruption a chance to come out :wink:

Reply 6

Slender Loris

Archaeology - as in, working on excavations - isn't a very good career - it's poorly paid (Archaeology graduates are among the lowest paid), short contracts, and you can only do it for so long before you either get bad knees or get fed up of the lifestyle. It's something people tend to do for a few years at most after graduating, before going onto a "real" career. Jobs are limited, because money is limited - the work goes to paying volunteers, because they can't afford to pay people to do the job. There is little structured career progression, and the next step up as it were from being a trench monkey mostly involves working in an office for contractors, town planning, councils etc, which while being a more stable option is not very exciting if your passion lies primarily in the field.

Academia is often seen as the best of both worlds - a stable, though not megabucks career, conducting fieldwork in far flung places during the summer; but it's difficult to get into and is almost a waiting for the old professors to die game.

So yeah, the advice I've been given by various people in the know has been to study Archaeology, then get a proper job and do it as a hobby at the weekends and holidays. Digs welcome paying, experienced volunteers. I personally can't imagine not being involved in Archaeology on a deeper level than this, though only time will tell...

More information on careers in Archaeology at britarch and Current Archaeology.

Current Archaeology's advice to those about to seek a paid career in archaeology is identical to Mr Punch's advice to those about to get married: Don't.

An archaeologist is a person whose career lies in ruins, as the saying goes :smile:

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