Expert: Ralph Salier - 11/28/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I am from Puerto Rico and I want to study archeology. I am in my first year of college, studying history. My problem is that I try to find info of colleges or economical help, but there is no one who can really orientate me on what I should do. It is my dream to be an archeologist and I really need someone of knowledge to guide me on how to find information. Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Francheska,

First of all you will need to determine what kind of archaeology you are interested in, for instance, are you interested in the archaeology of the Gulf of Mexico and the Carribian? Are you interested in the archaeology of MesoAmerica or South America or North America? Once you have defined you area of interest, then I can recommend colleges and universities that would best suit your area of interest.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well, I like both, but I also like the archeology of Europe. I want to attempt in all of them, but specialize in the European or I suppose that in the way I will figure which I like the most. For me just the thought of finding, investigating, traveling, writing, analyzing, new cultures, history, languages and all those source of things is enough. If I really need to chose now, I will prefer European or Americas, something that takes me to other places, learning their culture, their history, figuring out their past. I live in the Caribbean and want to see different things.

Answer
Hi Francheska,

Ok, The reason for making a "choice" sooner rather then later is that the methods used in Europe vs. the US or other parts of the world tend to be different and the analytics is also focused differently as well.  Thus the final outcome of the research may be similar but the understanding of those ancient cultures is not the same.  I have worked in Europe, NA and elsewhere and I have always found that the deeper analytics and greater precision taught in the US schools is far superior to those methods used elsewhere.  

I would recommend the University of Arizona or University of Florida system.  Both have very good programs and would allow you to develop the necessary skills that you can then transfer elsewhere.

Hope this helps.