Expert: Ralph Salier - 8/17/2007

Question
Hi!
I've become really interested in Archaeology recently, and was considering studying the field for a living. However, being as my only experience with judging colleges is the US News ranking, I was hoping for perhaps some assistance in lining up the top undergrad Archaeology programs in the US? I don't know what factors to look for. My primary interest is in the Anasazi, but that may change with more exposure to the field.
Thank you for your time!
Steph

Answer
Hi Steph.  

The best for what you are looking at, at the moment is U of Arizona.  Followed by UC San Diego and U of Colorado.  All have good South West Pre-historic Archaeology programs.  You can also get a more general Anthropology/Archaeology education at these fine institutions.  However, you will need to figure out some very important things:

1) Field or Lab (though not mutually exclusive, if you choose the lab, you will need to take more science courses)
[that is what I did and I got a lot more out of the field work as a result]
2) Pre-Historic or a combo of Pre-historic and historic
(a combo gives you better opportunities to find work in the future) [my own back ground is a mix of both but by field work rather  then study]
3) Area - at the moment you are hooked on the Anasazi but there is a lot more.  The Hopewell of the midwest, the Red Ocher peoples of the East Coast etc... They were every where! [personnally, I perfer pre-historic and the theoretical aspect of developing the cultural atributes based on the artifactual context]
4) Reality check -- You will never make bunches of bucks doing this kind of work.  It takes dedication, spirit and hard work.  I strongly recommend that along with the study of Archaeology/Anthropology, you also take on a minor in business, sociology, psychology or something you can turn into making a real living, if you need  to, even a teaching certificate would be a great idea (history-social studies).

There have been times when I could not find work in the field and have fallen back on these alternative ways to make a living.  As a teacher you would have the summers off to dig to your heart's delight for example.

Please feel free to ask more questions.  I am always willing to guide young people looking to get into this great but poorly paid field.