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Sir Regulus Lyonhart Crew
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 Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:27 pm
Umm... I'm just curious as to the number of members of this guild who are aspiring archaeologists, archaeologists already in the field, or simply fascinated by archaeology and are debating on whether or not to pursue it as a career. (I only ask because I've been noticing a lot mentions of interest in archaeology recently.)
I myself am an Archaeology major, but I'm debating whether or not to pursue it as a career. (I love it to death, but it doesn't make a single cent much money, and it feels to me as if I'd be pursuing a selfish desire, instead of working to help better the human condition as a whole.)
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:57 pm
I myself am an archaeology undergrad, but since I've been archiving, inventorying, curating, and excavating for nearly two years I pretty much consider myself an archaeologist. I don't blame you for having doubts about pursuing archaeology, as you pretty much just hit the nail on the head. You won't be making much money. As for pursuing a selfish desire, I think you have your logic a little backward. Pursuing a selfish desire would be ignoring your interest in archaeology simply because you want to make money.
Archaeologists are very helpful for a number of reasons. Remember that archaeology in itself isn't really a career. Someone can say, "I'm an archaeologist," but it doesn't really say what they do for a living. A lot of practicing archaeologists are professors/instructors at universities and colleges. But there are plenty of other jobs available. Archaeologists work for development companies in matters of Cultural Resource Management to minimize site impact in construction. They can work as consultants for a number of positions.
Just curious, where do you live?
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Sir Regulus Lyonhart Crew
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:08 pm
Xtopher I myself am an archaeology undergrad, but since I've been archiving, inventorying, curating, and excavating for nearly two years I pretty much consider myself an archaeologist. I don't blame you for having doubts about pursuing archaeology, as you pretty much just hit the nail on the head. You won't be making much money. As for pursuing a selfish desire, I think you have your logic a little backward. Pursuing a selfish desire would be ignoring your interest in archaeology simply because you want to make money. Archaeologists are very helpful for a number of reasons. Remember that archaeology in itself isn't really a career. Someone can say, "I'm an archaeologist," but it doesn't really say what they do for a living. A lot of practicing archaeologists are professors/instructors at universities and colleges. But there are plenty of other jobs available. Archaeologists work for development companies in matters of Cultural Resource Management to minimize site impact in construction. They can work as consultants for a number of positions. Just curious, where do you live? I live state-side in California, and I attend UC Davis. However what I meant by selfish, is that with my degree I can either become an archaeologist, or a surgical doctor (grades permitting). I do not want to be a doctor as much as I want to be an archaeologist, but naturally I feel that I can help more people as a doctor than I can as an archaeologist. This is why I feel like it would be more of a selfish pursuit, since I might have the ability to be a doctor. I'm wondering whether I should go for what I feel would make me more happier, or be more pleasurable (i.e. pursuing archaeology/becoming a teacher/professor), or what would help me to make a greater impact on the world (becoming a doctor). I'm thinking of compromising, and becoming a doctor and doing archaeology on the side, but that's kind of lacking in commitment, or something I fear. xP To be honest money doesn't interest me that much, but if I became a doctor I might have greater leeway in funding my own research some times. xP
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:19 pm
Well, lol, you didn't mention the surgeon thing. Just to let you know, I attend San Jose State University and as an archaeologist you can get a job working for Cal-Trans or other such companies. They have to deal with indian remains all the time. Not to mention all of the historic sites they have to deal with when they do work in crowded downtown areas that have been inhabited for a while.
As for choosing between surgical medicine and archaeology, I cannot help you with that. Just look at it this way, you won't be making a ton of money as a surgeon for a while anyway. Plus you gotta get through medical school. If you want to make an impact on the world then you can do that in both careers. I plan on making my mark on archaeology. If you wanna help people then I feel like you would be happier as a doctor, but it's a very personal decision. How long do you have to make it? Are you almost graduated? When do you have to apply to medical school if you choose that path?
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Sir Regulus Lyonhart Crew
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:47 pm
Xtopher Well, lol, you didn't mention the surgeon thing. Just to let you know, I attend San Jose State University and as an archaeologist you can get a job working for Cal-Trans or other such companies. They have to deal with indian remains all the time. Not to mention all of the historic sites they have to deal with when they do work in crowded downtown areas that have been inhabited for a while. As for choosing between surgical medicine and archaeology, I cannot help you with that. Just look at it this way, you won't be making a ton of money as a surgeon for a while anyway. Plus you gotta get through medical school. If you want to make an impact on the world then you can do that in both careers. I plan on making my mark on archaeology. If you wanna help people then I feel like you would be happier as a doctor, but it's a very personal decision. How long do you have to make it? Are you almost graduated? When do you have to apply to medical school if you choose that path? Well, to be truthful, there is a good chance I won't have a choice in the matter anyway, if I don't get accepted into Medical school. I graduate pretty soon. In 2010. My grades aren't exactly stellar. So if I don't make it into medical school I'll simply go into graduate school, and get a masters or Ph.D in Archaeology. Regardless of that, I don't plan on applying for medical school right away anyway. (If I planned to go to Medical school right after I graduate, I'd have to apply around now. xP) After I graduate, I'm taking off a year to try and do as much volunteer work as possible and perhaps travel a bit of the world on my own. This will give me a chance to get some good stuff on my resume, and give me a chance to raise my grades as much as possible until I graduate. This summer will be my first field school though, and it's in England, so I'm excited about that, since I've never been to Europe before. ( I wonder how I'll fare though, seeing as it's 5 weeks long, and spent in a tent outdoors. My record of nights spent outdoors is probably around 2, if not 1 or zero. )
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:40 pm
Alot of this was 'Blah' to me since I'm only just in the last stretch of Junior year-
My advice is to watch the job market. A surgeon will be a more secure job.
My own plans: If I'm accepted into a collage- I will go into Forensic Science- then study in Psychology and become a criminal profiler for the FBI.
If I don't get into collage (Alot of crap happened and my grades aren't the best because of it (Brother leaving for Afghanistan next month, Sick 15 year old cat I got when I was like 2 for my grandma(Who died in 2000) and death of my close great grandma)) I will most likely join the Navy- find technical/computer collages and work with the Navy's computers.
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:53 pm
I have to admit, I dropped the idea of being an archaeologist the minute I learned it didn't involve running through heavily trapped old ruins with a cool hat and a whip at your side... wink
(Oh sweet childhood memories!)
But I've never lost interest in archeology itself, especially when it comes to ancient cultures and religions (and comparing them to each other to find all those amazing similarities). During my school times I also spent a lot of time on learning about the pre-human eras, and I've always been in awe at how much people can actually tell about ages long past just by examining a handful bones and some fragments of clay pots - it's like forensic, just a lot more interesting. xp
Though I can absolutely understand any doubts about doing it for a living. A friend of mine during my high school years was an archaeologist, and he always said if he could make the choice again, he would probably decide against it. He thoroughly enjoyed what he was doing, but both the local job opportunities and the pay were really bad.
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:03 pm
I'll be majoring in Archaeology, or some other history thing in...well I have one year of high school left, actually ^^
I am going to take archaeology classes, and some medieval and ancient history classes.
My aim is to be Marine Archaeologist, because I am obsessed with the oceans~ and ships ^^
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:29 am
My little sister are a art historian and museum attendant... if that counts.
Personally the interest for history in general has always been strong in my family. My personal (obsessive) hobby is Fashion History and Armour History. I use it to make my characters more believable and my stories better in my work. (I am a illustrator and comic artist).
Personally I think history is very important not only because of the lessons it can teach us, but also because of the way it expand your imagination and help you create wonders.
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:22 pm
Electric_Tok I'll be majoring in Archaeology, or some other history thing in...well I have one year of high school left, actually ^^ I am going to take archaeology classes, and some medieval and ancient history classes. My aim is to be Marine Archaeologist, because I am obsessed with the oceans~ and ships ^^ Marine Archaeology sounds awesome. But I'm really more of a terrestrial person. I would go crazy being out on the sea for so long.
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:19 pm
Liesmith Loki Electric_Tok I'll be majoring in Archaeology, or some other history thing in...well I have one year of high school left, actually ^^ I am going to take archaeology classes, and some medieval and ancient history classes. My aim is to be Marine Archaeologist, because I am obsessed with the oceans~ and ships ^^ Marine Archaeology sounds awesome. But I'm really more of a terrestrial person. I would go crazy being out on the sea for so long. haha~ I go (am going) crazy being away from the sea! The only problem is I do get sea sick...ah well
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:56 pm
Mmm, archaeology. I am not currently majoring in anything (long story, won't get into it), but I did love my archaeology classes. Museums classes were never my thing, but oh I loved my archaeology classes.
Particularly the Historic Archaeology field class I took over one summer, I loved that class. Sifting buckets of dirt was far more enjoyable than the paper research sometimes.
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:51 pm
Electric_Tok Liesmith Loki Electric_Tok I'll be majoring in Archaeology, or some other history thing in...well I have one year of high school left, actually ^^ I am going to take archaeology classes, and some medieval and ancient history classes. My aim is to be Marine Archaeologist, because I am obsessed with the oceans~ and ships ^^ Marine Archaeology sounds awesome. But I'm really more of a terrestrial person. I would go crazy being out on the sea for so long. haha~ I go (am going) crazy being away from the sea! The only problem is I do get sea sick...ah well one of my main professors does maritime archaeology. It's still a pretty small and underdeveloped field, but the bright side is that there's a lot of room to grow.
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Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:24 pm
Xtopher Electric_Tok Liesmith Loki Electric_Tok I'll be majoring in Archaeology, or some other history thing in...well I have one year of high school left, actually ^^ I am going to take archaeology classes, and some medieval and ancient history classes. My aim is to be Marine Archaeologist, because I am obsessed with the oceans~ and ships ^^ Marine Archaeology sounds awesome. But I'm really more of a terrestrial person. I would go crazy being out on the sea for so long. haha~ I go (am going) crazy being away from the sea! The only problem is I do get sea sick...ah well one of my main professors does maritime archaeology. It's still a pretty small and underdeveloped field, but the bright side is that there's a lot of room to grow. Yes, exactly! I kid in my biology class last November said, when he found out what I planned to do with my life, "You are doing god's work" and shook my hand. It was very funny~ Now..I really must get my diving certificate
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:48 pm
Electric_Tok Xtopher Electric_Tok Liesmith Loki Electric_Tok I'll be majoring in Archaeology, or some other history thing in...well I have one year of high school left, actually ^^ I am going to take archaeology classes, and some medieval and ancient history classes. My aim is to be Marine Archaeologist, because I am obsessed with the oceans~ and ships ^^ Marine Archaeology sounds awesome. But I'm really more of a terrestrial person. I would go crazy being out on the sea for so long. haha~ I go (am going) crazy being away from the sea! The only problem is I do get sea sick...ah well one of my main professors does maritime archaeology. It's still a pretty small and underdeveloped field, but the bright side is that there's a lot of room to grow. Yes, exactly! I kid in my biology class last November said, when he found out what I planned to do with my life, "You are doing god's work" and shook my hand. It was very funny~ Now..I really must get my diving certificate Haha! That's awesome. I would love to branch into Marine Archaeology. I just wouldn't like to do it as my primary thing though. xP
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