Archaeology Career Course Institutions in India and Abroad

Archaeological research is the chief method available for learning about history and past societies. The field is now expanding and establishing its roots in different corporate bodies, too. This trend makes Archeology as a rewarding and the same time, a very challenging career opportunity. Young candidates, who have analytical bend of mind, are creative and logical in thinking, have flare for fine details and are appreciative of arts, have a bright chance to excel in this field.

Each and every culture and civilisation has its own history. This history so often is not clearly known to their people, as at times it is not discovered. The great Harappan Civilisation, one of the very first civilizations of the world, was unknown to Indians before the archaeological excavations done by Dayaram Sahni and Rakhaldas Banerjee in 1921-22.

The scientific and systematic study of the life and culture of past especially, seals, inscriptions, monuments, edifices and other such materials that have been buried somewhere in the past is known as Archaeology. The domain area of Archaeology is more diversified and has a number of branches. The various branches of Archaeology are archives, museology, numismatics, epigraphy, etc. The person who makes use of Archaeology as a discipline is known as archaeologist. The principal activities of an archaeologist include preliminary fieldwork, excavation of sites and periodical classification of them as well as dating and interpretation of materials so excavated. Archaeologists look for information about how, where and when cultures developed. Like other social scientists, they search for reasons why major changes have occurred in certain cultures. Some archaeologists try o understand why ancient people stopped hunting and started farming. Others develop theories about what caused people to build cities and to set up trade routes. In addition, some archaeologists look for reasons behind the fall of such early civilizations as the Harappan Civilisation in the Indian Subcontinent, Maya in Central America and the Romans in Europe.

Aechaeologists examine any evidence that can help them explain how people lived in past times. Such evidence ranges from the ruins of a large city to a few stone flakes left by someone making a stone tool long ago. The three basic kinds of archeological evidence are (1) artifacts, (2) features, and (3) ecofacts. Artifacts are objects that were made by people and can be moved without altering their appearance. Artifacts include such objects as arrowheads, pots and beads. Artifacts from a society with a written history may also include clay tablets and other written records. Features consist mainly of houses, tombs, irrigation canals, and peoples. Unlike artifacts, features cannot be separated from their surroundings without changing their form. Ecofacts are natural objects found with artifacts of features. Ecofacts reveal how ancient people responded to their surroundings. Examples of ecofacts include seeds and animal bones.

Nowadays, an upcoming trend is being seen in this field. Corporate houses have started establishing archived for the preservation and maintenance of their own records. Thus, there is every scope for archaeologists being associated in ancient environment project, soil formation, palaeobotanical project etc., which are presently being controlled by botanists, etc. They can flourish in meteorological, oceanography and other such related areas. The field is expanding and new explored horizons are being for these professionals.

A number of courses and options exist for these who want to pursue a career in Archaeology. The courses are of postgraduate diploma nature, postgraduate degree level as well as of higher domain. You can opt for postgraduate diploma in Archaeology or postgraduate degree in Archaeology. Also there are courses of postgraduate diploma in archives keeping, postgraduate diploma in museology and postgraduate degree in museology.

There are two levels at which one can join courses in Archaeology. In the first level, the basic educational requirement is graduation. Graduates in History in any stream, be it Ancient India, Medieval India or Modern India, can apply for diplomas, postgraduate diplomas or postgraduation (MA) in different fields of Archaeology. Duration of these courses vary from one year to two years. At the second level one can join these courses after completing postgraduation in History, i.e., MA in History.

Archaeologists follow three basic steps in interpreting the evidence they find: (1) classification, (2) dating and (3) evaluation. This requires archaeologists to be fine in details and analytical in thinking. Therefore, analytical and logical in thinking, grasp of finer details, accurate and keen observation are very essential attributes required for archaeologists. Apart, they should have creative bent of mind, should be able to recognize and appreciate arts. It is to be noted that most of the times archaeologists have to work outdoors, hence they should be adaptable to physical stress and strain as the working conditions are not very comfortable.

Career prospects for archaeologists are numerous as fields in which they can be employed are diversified. Archaeologists are employed in museums, cultural centers, universities, and different departments of Government and other such related bodies. Apart from these, they are employed in different projects, which are taken by research institutions from time to time.

The Archaeological Survey of India employs archaeologists at the State as well as the Central level either as assistant archaeologists who undertake activities like excavation, archaeological explorations etc., or as registration officers responsible for registering names of those who possess antiques. The vacancies for various posts keep occurring throughout the year. These are advertised in education supplements, Selection is done to these posts on the basis of written exam and interview.

After a PG diploma in Archaeology one can also seek employment through examinations conducted by Union Public Service Commission or Staff Selection Commission for the post of assistant archaeologist. One can also go on to become assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent Class I, join director and so on.

Apart from these, archaeologists can also get jobs in related industries and fields. Archaeology degree holders can also get jobs as tourist guides, heritage managers, interpreters, resource persons of trip organizers in the tourism industry. Archaeologists can take up teaching and research work after obtaining doctoral degrees.

The basic pay of archaeologists employed with the Archaeological Survey of India is between Rs. 5,500 and Rs. 9,000 as an assistant archaeologist which can go up to Rs.22,000 and up to Rs. 24,000 on reaching the post of director-general. Usually in government departments the promotion is performance-based. In private firms for jobs such as organizing exhibitions or as curators the beginning salary can be much higher. This remuneration with time and experience expands to the advantage of archaeologists.