People were
asking - how does one go about getting to be an archaeologist – or at least
involved in archaeology?
Let’s deal
with being an archaeologist working or being employed as such.
Part
One - The Professional
Professional
archaeologists in New Zealand generally follow these pathways:
·
University
(research and teaching-based) archaeologists.
·
Heritage
or Cultural Resource Management archaeologists.
·
Museum
(curatorial) archaeologists.
University-based
Archaeologists
These are primarily
academic or technical roles based in tertiary institutions. Most are involved
in teaching as well as research. This involves archaeological excavations,
laboratory work. The number of roles is limited in New Zealand.
Heritage
or Cultural Resource Management archaeologists.
Most
archaeologists employed in New Zealand area in the heritage management field.
These include:
·
Private
consultants. Principals of such firms are full time jobs, but they often employ
experienced researchers and excavators on either a permanent or on
contract/project basis.
·
Public
servants either at Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT), Territorial
Local Authorities (TLAs, i.e., council) or at the Ministry of Cultural and
Heritage (MCH). These archaeologists specialise in heritage policy and
compliance with heritage or resource management laws.
Museums
Archaeologists
working in museums are involved with research, public interaction, display
development and collection curation.
Other
In addition,
some related specialists that may work close in both public and private
heritage work including conservators, built heritage, environmental scientists,
planners and historians. Forensic work is another area that has employed
archaeologists.
Here is a
local consulting archaeologist talking about a job, working on a highway
project, indicating how the work might fit into a bigger picture. The importance of archaeology
– October 2019 - YouTube
For a
broader view of the range of New Zealand Archaeology look here: New
Zealand Archaeology Association - YouTube
Training
The route to
any of these is first a bachelor’s degree, specialising in archaeology.
Auckland and Otago teach these within anthropology or anthropological science
degrees. Both are well regarded teachers of the subject with many graduates who
work as archaeologists, here and many other parts of the world. These give a
flavour of what they are offering:
·
Archaeologist - The University of
Auckland
·
Careers, Archaeology, University of
Otago, New Zealand.
The Bachelors
degrees will allow you to work in junior roles in public and private heritage
management and museum roles. Typically 3-4 years.
A master’s
degree is generally considered to be a requirement for long-term archaeological
professional roles especially for supervising archaeological excavations. Typically 1-2 years.
Post-graduate
archaeology Masters degrees are available at both Auckland and Otago
Universities. Research-focused
archaeological Masters are available at both universities and Otago also offers
a heritage management-focussed Masters as well.
For academic
jobs a doctorate is required for most teaching and research positions. Commonly
a PhD from a university other than your first is often preferred for research
positions.
Doctorates
are not required for most general archaeological roles in public or private
heritage management but are not unusual. Typically 3-5 years.
Degrees in
related disciplines are offered at the other universities, particularly useful
for archaeologists with special focus on specialities such as radiocarbon
dating, history, Māori heritage, and policy.
Excavation
Archaeological
excavations can only be undertaken in New Zealand with an “Authority” from
HNZPT under the direction of an HNZPT-approved archaeologist. This includes research and heritage
management projects.
Archaeological
sites are protected by law whether they are recorded or not.
Requirements
for HNZPT approval to direct an excavation include academic qualifications,
relevant field-experience, local Māori engagement, and landowner permission.
Overseas
trained archaeologists can work here but are required to meet the HNZPT
requirements, especially relating to local experience and knowledge to advance
to directing archaeological excavations.
Job
Prospects
Job
prospects are reasonable, but advancing beyond first jobs might involve career
shifts to being self-employed, employed as private consultancies or in public
organisations.
Pay rates
vary considerably based on qualifications, experience and role.
Advancing
your employability:
·
Archaeology
has overlaps with geology, soil science, botany, zoology, history, historical
linguistics, physical anthropology and more – so following a secondary interest
in one or more of these may well help. It is becoming more specialised so think
about how you might be limiting your career before you get put in a silo.
·
Computer
skills are essential.
·
Statistics
or GIS / spatial analysis or surveying also desirable.
·
Take
any opportunity for fieldwork that is available. At university this is usually through
field schools.
·
Take
any opportunity for laboratory work that is offered, particularly if it links
back to field school work.
·
Collaborate:
If you end up working in Heritage / Resource Management it is not solitary
work. You will be interacting much of the time with other professionals such as
engineers, lawyers and planners, and with clients. If you have some time in
research, these days it is not a solo exercise. You will be working with a team
of people expert in aspects of the research and collaboration is central. Take
any opportunity to collaborate in what you are doing.
·
Network:
It applies in many careers but job opportunities in archaeology are not always
advertised. Develop a network.
·
Be
flexible – that entry opportunity may be short term, anywhere in New Zealand or
elsewhere, ill paid, uncomfortable, but make sure it is an opportunity to
learn.
·
Archaeology
of the relatively recent is often about people whose descendants are still resident,
who have an understandable interest in their own past, and their own
perspective on it. Indeed, they can form part of the community of
archaeologists.
·
Archaeology
in many parts of the world engages such with communities as the guardians of
their own culture and seeks to include their knowledge. It is certainly the
case here. Be prepared to work in that world. There is an increasing focus on
Mātauranga Māori and te reo is desirable. Becoming comfortable with tikanga
Māori is becoming necessary and is encouraged.
·
Archaeology
is taught here as part of anthropology, so understand its wider perspectives.
·
Some
people come to archaeology from other specialisations and bring skills with
them, but not many are a complete set for archaeology, so a new qualification
is usually necessary.
Research
Does the
broad church of archaeologists in New Zealand undertake research?
·
Few
archaeologists are typically employed to do that alone. Those in Universities
certainly do when not teaching and often those in Museums do as well.
·
There
is a long tradition of non-university/museum-based archaeologists undertaking
local and international quality research. This is often an outcome of
commercial projects, personal research interests or collaborations between
private and public archaeologists. However, most privately employed
archaeologists do such work voluntarily aa part of their professional
development or training.
·
New
Zealand archaeology is not a localised interest. Techniques and ideas about the
human past flow worldwide. Stay open to them.
Professional
Organisation
Is there a
professional association that might be a guide in this career?
Not at the
moment, but NZAA is looking to establish a professional arm so keep a lookout
for that. A mentor might help.
What to
join? Why NZAA of course – there are student rates. Membership - NZ Archaeological
Association (nzarchaeology.org)
Thanks to
Simon Bickler for assistance with this.
Part Two
- getting involved - to follow.