Adventures in Archeology

Art Major to Archeologist

I applied to be an archaeological field tech without any field school or a scientific degree...and they didn't say no. ;)

I know, I know! It's kind of madness. 👀 It's not like I have extensive professional archaeological experience, but I have a lot of personal experiences and three individuals in related fields suggested that I give it a go anyhow, so I did, and after a week working as a temp, they hired me on full-time.

Reflecting back to my highschool days, my favorite art teacher revealed something to me that altered the way I viewed the world. She told me matter of factly that she didn't have a teaching degree. This completely blew my mind! How could it be that a school, a place with so many expectations and regulations, would hire someone lacking the required degree to teach within our school district? Maybe it was her skill level, who she knew, or perhaps the need for art teachers outweighed her lack of traditional credentials? Whatever the case, it showed me possibilities I didn't know were there, and this shaped my trajectory going forward.

Flashforward to today, my resume is filled with experiences over credentials, and this is what I believe sets me apart from the rest. I don't wait for someone else to tell me what to learn—I go learn it myself. I don't rely on certificates and degrees to tell a story, I speak from my own experiences.

There are different kinds of archeologists. Some archeologists spend a great deal of time analyzing maps, diving into historical records, and identifying artifacts in the office. Other archeologists work their days outdoors, climbing up and down steep slopes, walking through cornfields, and digging holes under challenging weather conditions. I am the hole-digging kind. Most aspiring archeologists make a pivot in their career before securing a job within the field, leaving just a handfull of candidates behind to do the work. The work is hard. Not everyone is cut out for this profession.

In the short time I've worked as an archeological field tech, most of the people I work with don't plan to stay here forever. After college, field school, and landing an entry-level position in CRM (Cultural Resource Management), many of my colleagues would rather do something else. Me on the other hand? I LOVE being outside. I love adventure and can handle the weather, ticks, and mosquitos. I love the sunrise, the birdsong, the wildflowers, and the mushrooms spotted while hiking. I love the broken glass and chips of worked chert stones sifted from the holes I dig. When things are hard, I see it as good practice—practice for harder times.

I am a self-made woman. I am not a rich woman. I am not a powerful woman. I am a woman who goes places, sees things, and loves the process of learning itself. I am a woman of the world and I am here to explore it.

Curious to learn more about my background and what it's like to be an archeologist? I'll share more about my experiences in upcoming months. Stick around!