Expert: Ralph Salier - 1/3/2010

Question
Hello,

I am a first-year student at the University of Toronto, planning to major in chemistry and anthropology(focus on archaeology and field study), minor in English. I am an excellent math and science student.
I was wondering is there any correlation between these two fields and what is career advancement, salary, benefits and research like for archaeology?

Could I get summer experience while still in undergraduate years?  

Answer
Hi Christine,

UT is a great school and has some excellent Archaeological resources and courses.  It is one of the strongest programs in Canada.  There are important correlations between Chemistry and Archaeology in the field of Archaeo-Chemical analysis.  In this relatively new and very technical field, the Chemist works with the archaeologist to determine how things were made from metallugical materials to the remnants of materials found in pottery jugs from under the sea.  The field of dating is also a highly complex process which falls with in the realm of Chemistry as well.

As for careers, these will mostly be in a university setting or perhaps in a larger Ecological Consultancy charged with Cultural Resource Management.  These jobs will mostly require a PhD in the subject area.  

Summer experiences tend to be bountiful and there are frequent field schools, including these sponsored by the department at UT.  These are critical for the Archaeological degree as it is critical to the understanding of how these materials are found and treated before they reach the lab.  

I'm not sure which campus you attend but speak to the head of the Anthro department to find out what field schools are being sponsored and where and what it takes to be a member.

I hope this helps.  If you have more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Happy New Year!!