AboutRalph Salier Expertise Archaeologist for the last 30 years. Norh American generalist and Hopwell culture/Red Ocher culture specifically. Lithics Expert and Ground Stone tools.
Experience
Past/Present clients Numerous museums in US and Canada. Several University Anthropology Departments.
Question Hi,
My name is Sierra. I saw a question posted by someone named Jake that jogged my interest here. I will be enrolling at the University of West Florida this fall with the intention of majoring in Maritime Studies, specifically in Nautical Archaeology. Like Jake, I am interested old European Ships like Spanish Galleons, Viking Ships etc. And I was wondering what jobs might be available when I graduate in 2013.
Answer Hi Sierra,
That is a very tough question to answer. The number of jobs in Nautical Archaeology is still rather limited though it has grown over the years. But this is a limited resource and the number of ships found is subtracted from those lost. There is a fair amount of work still open in the Med and these are as important archaeologically as those treasure ships. The Viking ships are even harder to find due to their size and relative scarcity.
Thus I strongly recommend a back up position. Also study land archaeology and perhaps even forensics as a way to have a broader career base to work from. And as always, I also provide the following recommendation from M. Leakey:
Always have a back up plan in mind just incase there isn't enough work. Become a teacher, plumber, brick mason, any thing that will allow you to keep working but return to archaeology should the opportunity present itself.
