I’m thinking of studying archaeology at uni and have some questions… Iva (16)

Iva’s questions:

• I’m thinking of studying archaeology at uni, so can you recommend some good super-curriculas for archaeology and if joining YAC could also be one?
• For maritime archeaology or science archeaology, do you have to do a separate degree or can you continue studying them after you’ve done an archeaology degree?
• Does getting a masters or a PhD matter in archaeology?
• Is the fieldwork a big part of archaeology? If you’re not a big fan of the fieldwork could you still do archaeology ?
• How does finding work – do you have to work in a museum or can you join an organisation?
• Are your work days different from each other and if don’t want to work on a field, can you do it in a lab or something like that and how?

Dear Iva,

Joining the YAC is definitely a good idea as you will gain a lot of extra knowledge that will definitely help you, not only for your studies but also later in your career. There are many other subjects that you could learn about that would also be useful when you become an archaeologist. Among those, geology, GIS, photography, or you could try and specialise into one particular subject such as the study of pottery or osteology.

If you wish to do maritime archaeology, you will definitely need a special qualification, although you will still need your basic undergraduate degree in archaeology (which is not a bad thing as what you learn in your degree will always be of use, whichever path you then choose).

Now, getting a Master’s or PhD is not mandatory in archaeology but depending what you would like to specialise in, it is recommended. From experience, I know people who start working in archaeology with only an undergraduate degree, and after a few years (and once they know the profession better), they then go on to studying for a Masters in the subject they’d like to specialise in.

Fieldwork is a big part of archaeology and most jobs currently available in the UK are in the field. However, if you specialise in a particular subject (as mentioned above, if you become a pottery specialist, or someone who studies flints, or bones for example), you may be able to find a job that is just office based.

If you are looking for work as an archaeologist, there are many commercial companies recruiting in the UK but if you have never worked in archaeology before and have no specific qualifications, you would have to start by working on site. In the UK, the best website to find work is bajr.org

As an archaeologist working in the field, everyday is different as you not only spend time digging, a lot of time also goes into the recording of features (taking photos, writing descriptions, doing drawings, etc). And once the fieldwork is over, you also get to spend time

in the office as finds need to be processed (so they can be sent out to the various specialists) and a report needs to be produced, detailing all the findings from the excavation.

As you can see, being an archaeologist means you need a very varied set of skills! And as a result, whether you would like to work in the field, in the office or in the lab, there is always a possibility.

Odile, October 2025