Archaeology, Career option in Archaeology, archaeology jobs, archaeology university, archaeology career jobs in archaeology, careers in archaeology, archaeology museum, archaeology digs, anthropology archaeology

Indian Education and Job Industry >> Career Opportunities >> Archaeology

RSS Feed

Career option in Archaeology

Archaeologists (jokingly called as experts who prefer older things in life) excavate, preserve, study, and classify artifacts of the near and distant past in order to develop a picture of how people lived in earlier cultures and societies. The profession combines a broad understanding of history with sophisticated digging procedures. It is an exciting field of study as it takes you back by millions of years and mystery of that time seems to unfold due to your efforts.

Main areas of work
Archaeologists work in the field of numismatics or epigraphy. Numismatics involves the study of old coins, money instruments and other related objects such as medals etc. Through the study of these objects these experts provide insights into the past and assist in restructuring it with that experience and knowledge. Epigraphy is the study of ancient inscriptions with a view to interpret that for today. Apart from these specific specializations, an archaeologist could take up the task of preservation and maintenance of ancient monuments and priceless artifacts in various museums and other places.

Educational Qualifications
Post-graduate diploma in archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology in Delhi is the most sought after course in the field. Candidates who want to do this course need to have a Masters degree in ancient of medieval Indian history or an MA/M.Sc. with archaeology or anthropology. A minimum aggregate of 55 per cent is essential. A written exam and an interview is conducted on the basis of which the candidate is finally selected. To do a BA in archaeology candidates are required to have history as a subject in their 10+2. To do an MA in archaeology the minimum qualification is a BA in archaeology or related fields.

Job Prospects
Master's and doctoral candidates in archaeology pursue their studies as well as work under qualified archaeologists. Museums, excavations, and classrooms are all places where graduate students work to gain experience. They are required to put long hours as they must complete their studies and work at the same time. Remuneration is slight, and graduate students rely on grants and other financial aid. A number of professors and doctors publish regularly and make discoveries that justify the expenses that their excavations incur.

Related Careers
Archaeology is often paired with anthropology. Archaeology is the study of cultures and societies while anthropology is the study of the development of people within societies. In drawing their conclusions, anthropologists rely heavily on the work of archaeologists. Individuals who no longer wish to be archaeologists may join any of the various disciplines that the archaeologist must be familiar with; they may, for example, become historians, linguists, or surveyors.

Remunerations
The pay scales of archaeologists working in degree colleges and universities have witnessed good growth in recent times. The minimum starting salary is around 18000/- to 20000/- per month. There are time bound pay scales and increase as you put in more years of service. A Ph.D in the field also entitles one to reach the higher scale earlier than others and is a must have for rise in career. Salaries at museums and palaces are not that high but allow one to make a modest living.