​ ​Archaeology​ ​Pride​ ​Paper

Matthew​ ​D.​ ​McCurry

English​ ​III​ ​Honors​ ​Pd.​ ​1

Mr.​ ​Piatak

February​ ​23,​ ​2017

George​ ​Santayana​ ​once​ ​said,​ ​“Those​ ​that​ ​ignore​ ​history,​ ​are​ ​doomed​ ​to​ ​repeat​ ​it.”​ ​A​ ​very

common​ ​quote​ ​when​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​avoiding​ ​obstacles​ ​in​ ​the​ ​pursuit​ ​of​ ​life’s​ ​goals.​ ​However​ ​this

phrase​ ​became​ ​the​ ​motto​ ​for​ ​archaeologists​ ​especially,​ ​as​ ​they​ ​scoured​ ​the​ ​Earth​ ​for​ ​the​ ​treasures

of​ ​history,​ ​attempting​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​from​ ​the​ ​actions​ ​and​ ​mistakes​ ​of​ ​the​ ​past.​ ​The​ ​most​ ​common

definition​ ​of​ ​archaeology​ ​lists​ ​it​ ​as​ ​the​ ​“systematic​ ​study​ ​of​ ​the​ ​material​ ​remains​ ​of​ ​past​ ​human

life.”​​ ​(Archaeology).​ ​The​ ​more​ ​modern​ ​definition​ ​reads,​ ​“the​ ​reconstruction​ ​of​ ​the​ ​life​ ​of​ ​past

peoples.”​ ​(Archaeology).​ ​Modern​ ​archaeology​ ​now​ ​uses​ ​techniques​ ​from​ ​different​ ​fields​ ​of​ ​study

to​ ​answer​ ​questions​ ​about​ ​human​ ​behavior​ ​and​ ​culture​ ​from​ ​the​ ​historic​ ​to​ ​the​ ​prehistoric​ ​time

periods.​ ​Professor​ ​Phoebe​ ​Grant​ ​gave​ ​the​ ​best​ ​definition​ ​with​ ​an​ ​excellent​ ​quote;​ ​"The​ ​most

important​ ​thing​ ​for​ ​you​ ​to​ ​remember​ ​is​ ​that​ ​archaeologists​ ​are​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​finding​ ​out​ ​how

people​ ​lived​ ​years​ ​ago​ ​in​ ​ancient​ ​times...”​ ​(Grant).​ ​Archaeologists​ ​travel​ ​around​ ​the​ ​world

searching​ ​for​ ​artifacts​ ​from​ ​the​ ​past,​ ​whether​ ​digging​ ​into​ ​the​ ​dirt,​ ​or​ ​sifting​ ​through​ ​hundreds​ ​of

pages​ ​of​ ​books​ ​in​ ​a​ ​library,​ ​the​ ​journey​ ​may​ ​involve​ ​an​ ​endlessly​ ​winding​ ​path​ ​along​ ​the​ ​way.​ ​If

one​ ​managed​ ​to​ ​accomplish​ ​such​ ​a​ ​task​ ​as​ ​to​ ​find​ ​an​ ​important​ ​piece​ ​of​ ​treasure​ ​or​ ​a​ ​lost​ ​part​ ​of

history,​ ​that​ ​discovery​ ​would​ ​pave​ ​the​ ​way​ ​for​ ​other​ ​discoveries​ ​like​ ​it,​ ​or​ ​even​ ​better,​ ​would

pave​ ​the​ ​way​ ​for​ ​future​ ​generations​ ​to​ ​excel​ ​and​ ​continue​ ​the​ ​cycle,​ ​patching​ ​holes​ ​in​ ​a​ ​rapidly

filling​ ​timeline.​ ​ ​An​ ​interesting​ ​and​ ​fascinating​ ​career​ ​choice​ ​for​ ​people​ ​to​ ​choose,​ ​archaeology

takes​ ​the​ ​title​ ​as​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​oldest​ ​and​ ​easily​ ​recognized​ ​jobs​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world,​ ​a​ ​well​ ​respected​ ​career

path​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​trials​ ​of​ ​achieving​ ​that​ ​job,​ ​in​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​a​ ​fast​ ​evolving​ ​and​ ​adapting​ ​career​ ​path,

incorporating​ ​technology​ ​to​ ​help​ ​archaeologists​ ​perform​ ​better​ ​in​ ​the​ ​field.
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Archaeology​ ​as​ ​a​ ​scientific​ ​field​ ​began​ ​merely​ ​150​ ​years​ ​ago,​ ​however​ ​the​ ​desire​ ​to​ ​learn

more​ ​about​ ​the​ ​past​ ​burned​ ​in​ ​humans​ ​long​ ​before​ ​that​ ​time.​ ​Search​ ​far​ ​enough​ ​back​ ​in​ ​time,​ ​and

the​ ​ancient​ ​civilization​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Ancient​ ​Egyptians​ ​claim​ ​the​ ​title​ ​of​ ​first​ ​in​ ​recorded​ ​history​ ​to

explore​ ​the​ ​past.​ ​However,​ ​archaeology​ ​still​ ​simply​ ​involved​ ​reading​ ​and​ ​writing​ ​books​ ​for​ ​hours

or​ ​in​ ​that​ ​age,​ ​days​ ​to​ ​complete,​ ​until​ ​King​ ​Charles​ ​of​ ​Bourbon​ ​changed​ ​archaeology​ ​for​ ​the

better.​ ​The​ ​king​ ​ordered​ ​the​ ​reopening​ ​the​ ​vast​ ​mine​ ​shafts​ ​that​ ​the​ ​French​ ​believed​ ​led​ ​to​ ​an

abandoned​ ​city​ ​called​ ​Herculaneum.​ ​Natasha​ ​Sheldon,​ ​who​ ​has​ ​done​ ​extensive​ ​research​ ​on​ ​this

topic​ ​wrote,​ ​“​From​ ​1738,​ ​military​ ​engineers​ ​began​ ​systematic​ ​digs​ ​at​ ​Herculaneum.​ ​More​ ​shafts

and​ ​tunnels​ ​began​ ​to​ ​reveal​ ​buildings​ ​such​ ​as​ ​the​ ​Basilica​ ​Nonius,”​ ​(Sheldon)​ ​Combining

intelligence​ ​with​ ​the​ ​deep​ ​pockets​ ​of​ ​the​ ​king,​ ​the​ ​two​ ​men​ ​finally​ ​were​ ​able​ ​to​ ​locate​ ​the​ ​lost

city.​ ​Although​ ​not​ ​even​ ​realizing​ ​it​ ​at​ ​the​ ​time,​ ​King​ ​Charles​ ​had​ ​started​ ​a​ ​revolution​ ​in

archaeology,​ ​marking​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​the​ ​complex,​ ​technical​ ​side​ ​of​ ​archaeology.​ ​Archaeology

started​ ​as​ ​a​ ​small​ ​concept,​ ​an​ ​idea​ ​that​ ​sometimes​ ​flickered​ ​alight​ ​in​ ​people's​ ​minds.​ ​When

problems​ ​and​ ​questions​ ​arose​ ​from​ ​discoveries,​ ​scholars​ ​tended​ ​to​ ​use​ ​religious​ ​texts​ ​like​ ​the

Bible​ ​for​ ​answers​ ​to​ ​questions​ ​concerning​ ​the​ ​purpose​ ​that​ ​God​ ​created​ ​them​ ​for.​ ​As​ ​people​ ​from

all​ ​over​ ​the​ ​world​ ​began​ ​to​ ​locate​ ​artifacts​ ​of​ ​the​ ​past,​ ​they​ ​began​ ​to​ ​doubt​ ​much​ ​of​ ​the​ ​teachings

of​ ​the​ ​Bible,​ ​and​ ​slowly​ ​but​ ​surely​ ​historians​ ​created​ ​new​ ​answers​ ​to​ ​these​ ​challenges.​ ​Modern

archaeology​ ​began​ ​to​ ​take​ ​the​ ​shape​ ​early​ ​in​ ​the​ ​19th​ ​Century.​ ​Not​ ​only​ ​did​ ​people​ ​begin​ ​to

wonder​ ​about​ ​the​ ​events​ ​of​ ​the​ ​past,​ ​they​ ​created​ ​different​ ​tools​ ​and​ ​methods​ ​to​ ​help​ ​answer

those​ ​questions.​ ​Today,​ ​the​ ​effects​ ​of​ ​this​ ​multidisciplinary​ ​history​ ​remain​ ​abundant,​ ​and

archaeologists​ ​enjoy​ ​the​ ​benefit​ ​of​ ​a​ ​wide​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​analytical​ ​techniques​ ​from​ ​the​ ​social​ ​and

physical​ ​sciences.
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​ ​Public​ ​thoughts​ ​about​ ​what​ ​archaeologists​ ​truly​ ​do​ ​remain​ ​slightly​ ​unrealistic,​ ​and​ ​can

turn​ ​the​ ​study​ ​of​ ​history​ ​into​ ​a​ ​game​ ​of​ ​X​ ​marks​ ​the​ ​spot​ ​for​ ​younger​ ​interns.​ ​An​ ​example​ ​of​ ​this

is​ ​when​ ​a​ ​professor​ ​named​ ​Mary​ ​Leakey​ ​discovered​ ​what​ ​appeared​ ​to​ ​scientists​ ​as​ ​an​ ​ancient

human​ ​fossil​ ​skeleton​ ​at​ ​Olduvai​ ​Gorge​ ​in​ ​Africa​ ​in​ ​1959.​ ​While​ ​people​ ​considered​ ​the

discovery​ ​remarkable,​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​Leakey​ ​continued​ ​searching​ ​for​ ​years​ ​for​ ​something​ ​that

many​ ​believed​ ​did​ ​not​ ​even​ ​exist​ ​stands​ ​out​ ​as​ ​the​ ​more​ ​impressive​ ​feat.​ ​Leakey​ ​then​ ​continued

her​ ​work​ ​in​ ​archaeology,​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​find​ ​more​ ​fossils​ ​in​ ​other​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​Africa​ ​“​Working​ ​with​ ​her

husband​ ​for​ ​the​ ​next​ ​30​ ​years,​ ​Mary​ ​Leakey​ ​made​ ​several​ ​of​ ​their​ ​most​ ​important​ ​fossil​ ​finds.”

(Leakey)

Archaeology​ ​both​ ​influences​ ​and​ ​exists​ ​under​ ​the​ ​influence​ ​of​ ​many​ ​things,​ ​affecting

careers​ ​like​ ​science​ ​and​ ​psychology​ ​with​ ​the​ ​discoveries​ ​that​ ​researchers​ ​make​ ​in​ ​the​ ​field.

“During​ ​the​ ​1970s​ ​archaeology​ ​became​ ​influenced​ ​by​ ​the​ ​natural​ ​and​ ​social​ ​sciences,​ ​and

environmental​ ​studies,”​ ​(“Biblical​ ​Archaeology”)​ ​Using​ ​this​ ​newfound​ ​knowledge,

archaeologists​ ​attempt​ ​to​ ​rebuild​ ​the​ ​lands​ ​of​ ​the​ ​past​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​locate​ ​the​ ​remains​ ​of​ ​a​ ​buried

historical​ ​site,​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​when​ ​an​ ​excavation​ ​discovers​ ​ancient​ ​ruins​ ​or​ ​remains​ ​of​ ​tents​ ​in​ ​a

site​ ​previously​ ​thought​ ​uninhabitable,​ ​the​ ​discovery​ ​cancels​ ​out​ ​the​ ​current​ ​theory​ ​on​ ​that

location.​ ​However,​ ​archaeology​ ​remains​ ​under​ ​the​ ​influence​ ​of​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​things,​ ​including

science​ ​and​ ​technology​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​current​ ​events.​ ​Its​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​material​ ​objects​ ​forces

archaeological​ ​research​ ​to​ ​primarily​ ​concern​ ​itself​ ​with​ ​the​ ​past.​ ​However,​ ​the​ ​continuing

adaptation​ ​and​ ​development​ ​has​ ​allowed​ ​people​ ​to​ ​better​ ​study​ ​the​ ​past​ ​and​ ​become​ ​more

efficient​ ​in​ ​activities​ ​such​ ​as​ ​excavation​ ​and​ ​research.​ ​In​ ​addition,​ ​the​ ​media​ ​also​ ​affects​ ​this

career​ ​as​ ​well,​ ​as​ ​curious​ ​as​ ​this​ ​may​ ​sound,​ ​when​ ​Hollywood​ ​released​ ​the​ ​Indiana​ ​Jones​ ​movies,
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scientists​ ​recorded​ ​a​ ​sudden​ ​spike​ ​of​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​archaeology.​ ​Even​ ​in​ ​the​ ​most​ ​unlikely​ ​sources,

archaeology​ ​has​ ​become​ ​an​ ​extremely​ ​important​ ​and​ ​influential​ ​factor​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world.

Historians​ ​are​ ​now​ ​able​ ​to​ ​imagine​ ​the​ ​lifestyles​ ​of​ ​now​ ​extinct​ ​cultures​ ​by​ ​taking

biological​ ​remains,​ ​and​ ​redeveloping​ ​them​ ​using​ ​technology.​ ​In​ ​his​ ​article,​ ​“An​ ​Archaeologist​ ​at

Work”​ ​Gordon​ ​Grimwade​ ​says​ ​that​ ​“​by​ ​excavating​ ​and​ ​recording​ ​carefully,​ ​archaeologists​ ​can

understand​ ​what​ ​took​ ​place​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​site​ ​over​ ​many​ ​years.”​ ​(An​ ​Archaeologist...).​​ ​Scientific

specialists​ ​now​ ​have​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​more​ ​about​ ​societies​ ​and​ ​civilizations,​ ​across​ ​the

landscape.​ ​Chemists​ ​help​ ​archaeologists​ ​identify​ ​areas​ ​frequently​ ​used​ ​by​ ​humanity’s​ ​ancestors

by​ ​finding​ ​specific​ ​chemical​ ​signatures​ ​usually​ ​found​ ​in​ ​human​ ​waste​ ​and​ ​burned​ ​wood​ ​from

campfires.​ ​Technology​ ​such​ ​as​ ​high​ ​powered​ ​radar​ ​and​ ​even​ ​sonar​ ​equipment,​ ​can​ ​help​ ​locate

structures​ ​buried​ ​beneath​ ​dense​ ​jungles.​ ​This​ ​technology​ ​give​ ​Geographic​ ​Information​ ​System

specialists​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​help​ ​archaeologists​ ​analyze​ ​a​ ​wide​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​data​ ​about​ ​the​ ​excavation

site,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​migration​ ​paths​ ​and​ ​ancient​ ​travel​ ​routes​ ​nomadic​ ​tribes​ ​might​ ​have​ ​taken.

Archaeology​ ​not​ ​only​ ​focuses​ ​on​ ​different​ ​physical​ ​aspects​ ​of​ ​culture,​ ​it​ ​also​ ​encompasses​ ​the

religious​ ​side​ ​as​ ​well,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​people​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​this​ ​field​ ​has​ ​increased​ ​over​ ​time,

“​Over​ ​the​ ​past​ ​20​ ​years,​ ​archaeologists​ ​have​ ​turned​ ​their​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​the​ ​study​ ​of​ ​ritual​ ​and

religion,”​ ​(Rowan).​ ​The​ ​importance​ ​of​ ​religion​ ​in​ ​ancient​ ​culture​ ​points​ ​to​ ​its​ ​necessity​ ​in

learning​ ​more​ ​about​ ​the​ ​past.

The​ ​college​ ​requirements​ ​to​ ​become​ ​an​ ​archaeologist​ ​vary​ ​based​ ​upon​ ​the​ ​level​ ​to​ ​which

one​ ​wishes​ ​to​ ​rise.​ ​This​ ​job​ ​requires​ ​a​ ​formal​ ​college​ ​education,​ ​however​ ​a​ ​specific​ ​requirement

does​ ​not​ ​exist.​ ​The​ ​more​ ​education​ ​a​ ​person​ ​receives,​ ​the​ ​more​ ​opportunities​ ​in​ ​this​ ​field​ ​become

available.​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​a​ ​high​ ​school​ ​history​ ​teacher​ ​would​ ​require​ ​a​ ​bachelor's​ ​degree,​ ​while
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someone​ ​desiring​ ​to​ ​become​ ​a​ ​college​ ​professor​ ​would​ ​need​ ​to​ ​get​ ​their​ ​Master’s​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​order

to​ ​achieve​ ​their​ ​goals.​ ​While​ ​a​ ​useful​ ​degree​ ​to​ ​become​ ​an​ ​archaeologists​ ​involves​ ​a​ ​major​ ​in

history,​ ​an​ ​anthropology​ ​degree​ ​would​ ​assist​ ​the​ ​ambitious​ ​history​ ​student​ ​to​ ​accomplish​ ​their

dreams.​ ​This​ ​degree​ ​involves​ ​the​ ​study​ ​of​ ​human​ ​societies​ ​and​ ​cultures​ ​and​ ​their​ ​development.​ ​In

addition​ ​to​ ​an​ ​anthropology​ ​degree,​ ​a​ ​bachelor’s​ ​degree​ ​and​ ​a​ ​master’s​ ​degree​ ​would​ ​help​ ​in​ ​the

search​ ​for​ ​a​ ​job​ ​opening.​ ​A​ ​doctoral​ ​degree,​ ​while​ ​more​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​attain,​ ​will​ ​provide​ ​immense

assistance​ ​to​ ​the​ ​hopeful​ ​intern.​ ​While​ ​this​ ​involves​ ​higher​ ​risks,​ ​the​ ​degree​ ​boosts​ ​the​ ​pursuit​ ​of

the​ ​job​ ​much​ ​more​ ​than​ ​any​ ​of​ ​the​ ​other​ ​degrees.​ ​Higher​ ​level​ ​degrees​ ​usually​ ​result​ ​in​ ​higher

level​ ​career​ ​opportunities,​ ​“Master's​ ​or​ ​doctoral​ ​degrees​ ​typically​ ​qualify​ ​students​ ​for​ ​upper-level

positions​ ​in​ ​museums,​ ​archaeology​ ​firms​ ​and​ ​government​ ​sectors”​ ​(Archaeology:​ ​Educat...)

A​ ​broad​ ​subject,​ ​archaeology​ ​links​ ​with​ ​many​ ​others​ ​career​ ​paths,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​geography,

history​ ​and​ ​social​ ​sciences.​ ​However​ ​some​ ​specializations​ ​require​ ​a​ ​science​ ​degree​ ​such​ ​as

biology,​ ​medicine,​ ​geology​ ​or​ ​environmental​ ​science​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​a​ ​purely​ ​archaeological

qualification.​ ​No​ ​matter​ ​the​ ​type​ ​of​ ​degree​ ​chosen,​ ​“​A​ ​graduate​ ​degree​ ​is​ ​the​ ​minimum​ ​education

to​ ​become​ ​an​ ​archaeologist,​ ​but​ ​related​ ​careers​ ​exist​ ​with​ ​an​ ​undergraduate​ ​degree.​”

(Archaeology:​ ​Educat...)​ ​An​ ​undergraduate,​ ​while​ ​not​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​become​ ​an​ ​archaeologist,​ ​does

in​ ​fact​ ​allow​ ​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​for​ ​other​ ​jobs​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​it.​ ​Useful​ ​knowledge​ ​in​ ​computer​ ​engineering,

computer-aided​ ​design​ ​and​ ​geographic​ ​navigation​ ​would​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​boost​ ​to​ ​one’s​ ​chances​ ​of

acceptance.​ ​This​ ​may​ ​prove​ ​particularly​ ​useful​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​teaching​ ​career​ ​in​ ​the​ ​field​ ​of

archaeology.​ ​Different​ ​local​ ​colleges​ ​offer​ ​these​ ​degrees,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​UNC​ ​at​ ​Chapel​ ​Hill,

Appalachian​ ​State,​ ​and​ ​UNC​ ​at​ ​Asheville,​ ​and​ ​many​ ​more.​ ​The​ ​University​ ​of​ ​North​ ​Carolina​ ​at

Chapel​ ​Hill​ ​offers​ ​a​ ​great​ ​three-year​ ​program​ ​that​ ​addresses​ ​most​ ​if​ ​not​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​requirements​ ​to
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become​ ​an​ ​archaeologist.

Archaeology​ ​also​ ​requires​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​level​ ​of​ ​mental​ ​endurance,​ ​commitment,​ ​and

perseverance​ ​to​ ​help​ ​push​ ​through​ ​the​ ​challenges​ ​of​ ​this​ ​job.,​ ​The​ ​length​ ​of​ ​time​ ​required​ ​to

become​ ​an​ ​archaeologist​ ​depends​ ​solely​ ​on​ ​the​ ​level​ ​of​ ​accomplishment​ ​and​ ​ranks​ ​that​ ​one

wishes​ ​to​ ​rise​ ​above.​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​a​ ​longer​ ​term​ ​education​ ​means​ ​a​ ​better​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​increase​ ​a

particular​ ​“rank”​ ​among​ ​archaeologists.​ ​Examples​ ​of​ ​these​ ​“rank​ ​advancements”​ ​may​ ​include

graduating​ ​from​ ​an​ ​excavator​ ​to​ ​project​ ​manager,​ ​or​ ​from​ ​assistant​ ​to​ ​head​ ​researchers.​ ​Much​ ​of

this​ ​job​ ​revolves​ ​around​ ​the​ ​hard​ ​work​ ​and​ ​level​ ​of​ ​commitment​ ​that​ ​the​ ​employee​ ​contains​ ​for

the​ ​study​ ​of​ ​the​ ​past,​ ​and​ ​how​ ​much​ ​determination​ ​becomes​ ​necessary​ ​to​ ​stick​ ​it​ ​out​ ​in​ ​harsh

conditions​ ​like​ ​desert​ ​heat,​ ​arctic​ ​cold,​ ​or​ ​even​ ​tropical​ ​humidity.​ ​ ​In​ ​an​ ​entertaining​ ​interview

with​ ​Scott​ ​Douglas,​ ​a​ ​historian​ ​and​ ​head​ ​of​ ​operations​ ​at​ ​Fort​ ​Dobbs​ ​historical​ ​site​ ​about​ ​an​ ​hour

away,​ ​Professor​ ​Scott​ ​gave​ ​a​ ​very​ ​good​ ​piece​ ​of​ ​advice,​ ​“​Don’t​ ​burn​ ​yourself​ ​out,​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​guys

come​ ​here​ ​and​ ​are​ ​really​ ​happy​ ​and​ ​excited​ ​and​ ​then​ ​just​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​fizzle​ ​out​ ​about​ ​halfway,​ ​if​ ​they

get​ ​that​ ​far.”​ ​Most​ ​people​ ​wishing​ ​to​ ​join​ ​Mr.​ ​Douglas​ ​at​ ​the​ ​site​ ​quit​ ​after​ ​a​ ​while​ ​because​ ​the

amount​ ​of​ ​work​ ​necessary​ ​did​ ​not​ ​match​ ​what​ ​they​ ​originally​ ​thought.

Currently​ ​archaeologists​ ​employ​ ​themselves​ ​in​ ​two​ ​major​ ​sectors.​ ​On​ ​one​ ​side,​ ​the​ ​more

traditional​ ​route​ ​of​ ​working​ ​as​ ​a​ ​professor​ ​or​ ​a​ ​museum​ ​curator.​ ​Alternatively,​ ​archaeologists​ ​can

work​ ​in​ ​a​ ​sector​ ​called​ ​cultural​ ​heritage​ ​management,​ ​these​ ​archaeologists​ ​work​ ​to​ ​preserve

historic​ ​and​ ​archaeological​ ​sites​ ​during​ ​industrial​ ​development​ ​and​ ​other​ ​projects.​ ​They​ ​might

work​ ​for​ ​the​ ​federal​ ​or​ ​state​ ​governments,​ ​utility​ ​companies,​ ​or​ ​private​ ​companies.​ ​Whether

pushing​ ​through​ ​long​ ​hours​ ​at​ ​the​ ​office,​ ​enduring​ ​the​ ​disappointment​ ​of​ ​failing​ ​to​ ​find

something​ ​on​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​few​ ​excavations​ ​in​ ​that​ ​career,​ ​or​ ​handling​ ​the​ ​ups​ ​and​ ​downs​ ​of​ ​finding
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an​ ​important​ ​artifact​ ​and​ ​then​ ​going​ ​weeks​ ​without​ ​finding​ ​anything​ ​further​ ​of​ ​interest,​ ​this​ ​field

is​ ​challenging.​ ​Not​ ​only​ ​does​ ​the​ ​job​ ​require​ ​one​ ​to​ ​have​ ​an​ ​education,​ ​one​ ​would​ ​need​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a

degree​ ​of​ ​mental​ ​toughness​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​important​ ​abilities​ ​includes​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​to

handle​ ​employment​ ​insecurity​ ​and​ ​limited​ ​project​ ​funding,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​having​ ​excellent​ ​project

management​ ​skills.​ ​Archaeology​ ​lacks​ ​the​ ​simplicity​ ​that​ ​films​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Indiana​ ​Jones​ ​would​ ​have

convinced​ ​the​ ​public​ ​to​ ​believe.​ ​An​ ​aspiring​ ​archaeologist​ ​must​ ​sometimes​ ​spend​ ​their​ ​time​ ​in

the​ ​office,​ ​sifting​ ​through​ ​papers​ ​and​ ​old​ ​files,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​cracking​ ​open​ ​some​ ​old​ ​books​ ​from

millennia​ ​ago.​ ​Occasionally,​ ​methodical​ ​digging​ ​becomes​ ​necessary,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​bulk​ ​of​ ​an

archaeologist's​ ​work​ ​will​ ​take​ ​place​ ​in​ ​a​ ​lab,​ ​analyzing​ ​excavated​ ​remains.​ ​According​ ​to

Archaeologist​ ​Gordon​ ​Grimwade,​ ​in​ ​his​ ​article​ ​called​ ​“Into​ ​the​ ​Future”,​ ​most​ ​archaeologists​ ​do

not​ ​often​ ​have​ ​those​ ​“jackpot”​ ​moments​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​field,​ ​“Sometimes​ ​we​ ​get​ ​surprises.”​ ​“(Into

the​ ​Future),”​ ​however,​ ​these​ ​moments​ ​often​ ​occur​ ​after​ ​a​ ​series​ ​of​ ​patient​ ​data​ ​crunching​ ​and

painstaking​ ​analysis​ ​in​ ​a​ ​lab.​ ​While​ ​the​ ​perks​ ​of​ ​the​ ​job​ ​do​ ​include​ ​traveling​ ​to​ ​different​ ​and

exotic​ ​corners​ ​of​ ​the​ ​globe,​ ​archaeology​ ​also​ ​results​ ​in​ ​long​ ​hours​ ​in​ ​the​ ​office,​ ​where​ ​an

employee​ ​would​ ​have​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​mental​ ​perseverance​ ​in​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​mental

knowledge​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​push​ ​through​ ​the​ ​long​ ​hours​ ​of​ ​the​ ​job,​ ​whether​ ​outdoors​ ​or​ ​indoors,​ ​and

to​ ​have​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​persevere​ ​even​ ​when​ ​many​ ​efforts​ ​come​ ​up​ ​fruitless.​ ​This​ ​means​ ​an

aspiring​ ​archaeologist​ ​also​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​confidence​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​despite​ ​the

trials​ ​that​ ​may​ ​come​ ​up.​ ​Professor​ ​Scott​ ​Douglas​ ​said,​ ​“It’s​ ​important​ ​to​ ​have​ ​confidence,​ ​but​ ​it’s

much​ ​more​ ​important​ ​to​ ​have​ ​patience,​ ​this​ ​job​ ​can​ ​get​ ​frustrating​ ​sometimes.”​ ​(Douglas).

Future​ ​archaeologists​ ​must​ ​have​ ​a​ ​keen​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​history​ ​and​ ​historical​ ​artifacts,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​enjoy

traveling​ ​to​ ​remote​ ​locations​ ​and​ ​working​ ​closely​ ​with​ ​people​ ​from​ ​other​ ​regions.​​ ​Technology
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has​ ​brought​ ​innovation​ ​and​ ​advanced​ ​archaeology​ ​from​ ​what​ ​people​ ​previously​ ​thought​ ​of​ ​when

hearing​ ​that​ ​word.​ ​Now​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​digging​ ​in​ ​the​ ​dirt​ ​for​ ​countless​ ​hours​ ​with​ ​the​ ​slim​ ​hope​ ​that

something​ ​discoverable​ ​lies​ ​just​ ​one​ ​more​ ​layer​ ​below,​ ​Archaeologists​ ​can​ ​utilise​ ​technology​ ​and

satellites​ ​to​ ​locate​ ​ancient​ ​ruins​ ​in​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​excavation​ ​sites.​ ​A​ ​process​ ​normally​ ​costing

extensive​ ​amounts​ ​of​ ​time,​ ​labor,​ ​and​ ​resources,​ ​completable​ ​in​ ​shorter​ ​than​ ​half​ ​the​ ​time.

Modern​ ​archaeology​ ​uses​ ​technology​ ​to​ ​help​ ​solve​ ​other​ ​problems​ ​too.​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​to​ ​establish

an​ ​effective​ ​timeline,​ ​archaeologists​ ​often​ ​use​ ​techniques​ ​developed​ ​by​ ​researchers​ ​in​ ​other

disciplines,​ ​to​ ​gather​ ​data​ ​and​ ​fill​ ​in​ ​the​ ​often​ ​gaping​ ​holes.

Generally,​ ​people​ ​divide​ ​archaeology​ ​into​ ​two​ ​different​ ​categories,​ ​New​ ​World​ ​and​ ​Old

World.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​Old​ ​World,​ ​people​ ​used​ ​Biblical​ ​and​ ​other​ ​historical​ ​texts​ ​to​ ​identify

archaeological​ ​discoveries​ ​and​ ​confirm​ ​their​ ​validity​ ​according​ ​to​ ​scripture.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​New​ ​World,

university-based​ ​archaeologists​ ​usually​ ​work​ ​in​ ​history​ ​departments,​ ​reading​ ​countless​ ​historical

manuscripts​ ​and​ ​artifacts.​ ​Since​ ​people​ ​tended​ ​to​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​Old​ ​World​ ​more​ ​than​ ​New,​ ​artifacts

did​ ​not​ ​become​ ​deciphered​ ​until​ ​relatively​ ​recently.​ ​Michael​ ​R.​ ​Ash​ ​says​ ​that​ ​“In​ ​1980,​ ​for

instance,​ ​one​ ​New​ ​World​ ​scholar​ ​claimed​ ​that​ ​less​ ​than​ ​1​ ​percent​ ​of​ ​known​ ​ancient​ ​American

sites​ ​had​ ​been​ ​excavated.”​ ​(Ash)​ ​Archaeology​ ​continued​ ​advancing​ ​forward​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Old​ ​World,

causing​ ​them​ ​to​ ​outgrow​ ​the​ ​questions​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​the​ ​origin​ ​and​ ​purpose​ ​of​ ​existence.​ ​Instead,

university-based​ ​archaeologists​ ​in​ ​the​ ​New​ ​World​ ​typically​ ​base​ ​themselves​ ​in​ ​learning​ ​about

how​ ​people​ ​in​ ​the​ ​past​ ​lived,​ ​whether​ ​neanderthals​ ​or​ ​royalty,​ ​researchers​ ​spent​ ​time​ ​studying

them​ ​both.​ ​The​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​archaeologists​ ​working​ ​around​ ​the​ ​world​ ​today​ ​employ​ ​themselves​ ​in

government​ ​or​ ​private​ ​enterprise​ ​positions.​ ​This​ ​largely​ ​results​ ​from​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​government

that​ ​preserves​ ​archaeological​ ​cultural​ ​heritage​ ​sites,​ ​establishing​ ​things​ ​such​ ​as​ ​national​ ​parks.
 McCurry​ ​9

This​ ​raises​ ​the​ ​need​ ​for​ ​more​ ​research​ ​to​ ​help​ ​justify​ ​the​ ​reasoning​ ​of​ ​the​ ​preservation.

Archaeology​ ​involves​ ​the​ ​study​ ​of​ ​events​ ​that​ ​occurred​ ​in​ ​the​ ​past,​ ​usually​ ​taking​ ​place

on​ ​land,​ ​deep​ ​inside​ ​of​ ​caverns,​ ​or​ ​buried​ ​beneath​ ​mounds​ ​of​ ​sand.​ ​However​ ​archaeology

contains​ ​much​ ​more​ ​diverse​ ​methods​ ​than​ ​simply​ ​digging​ ​beneath​ ​the​ ​ground.​ ​Many​ ​people​ ​now

choose​ ​to​ ​pursue​ ​the​ ​past​ ​by​ ​looking​ ​through​ ​satellites​ ​in​ ​space.​ ​Others​ ​choose​ ​to​ ​pursue​ ​their

career​ ​beneath​ ​the​ ​waves​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​Aquatic​ ​archaeology​ ​captures​ ​the​ ​interest​ ​of​ ​many​ ​people,

making​ ​this​ ​field​ ​equal​ ​in​ ​importance.​ ​Old​ ​shipwrecks​ ​can​ ​contain​ ​treasure​ ​hidden​ ​inside,

making​ ​the​ ​protection​ ​of​ ​these​ ​sites​ ​extremely​ ​important.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​marine​ ​archaeologist,​ ​studying​ ​the

ocean​ ​floors​ ​becomes​ ​a​ ​daily​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​routine,​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​these​ ​sites​ ​and​ ​the​ ​treasures​ ​they

hide.​ ​“​Underwater​ ​Archaeology​ ​is​ ​generally​ ​concerned​ ​with​ ​the​ ​archaeology​ ​of​ ​sites​ ​located

underwater,​ ​regardless​ ​of​ ​their​ ​connection​ ​to​ ​the​ ​sea;​ ​it​ ​includes​ ​shipwreck​ ​sites,​ ​aircraft​ ​wrecks,

etc.”​ ​(AIMA)​ ​They​ ​also​ ​have​ ​other​ ​responsibilities,​ ​when​ ​a​ ​company​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​build​ ​something​ ​in

the​ ​ocean,​ ​a​ ​marine​ ​archaeologist​ ​may​ ​get​ ​called​ ​in​ ​to​ ​find​ ​any​ ​shipwrecks​ ​that​ ​the​ ​company​ ​may

have​ ​missed.​ ​If​ ​one​ ​locates​ ​a​ ​shipwreck,​ ​the​ ​archaeologist​ ​informs​ ​the​ ​project​ ​manager​ ​that​ ​the

site​ ​must​ ​remain​ ​undisturbed.​ ​The​ ​marine​ ​archaeologist​ ​then​ ​applies​ ​for​ ​grants​ ​or​ ​permits​ ​in

order​ ​to​ ​excavate​ ​the​ ​site.​ ​With​ ​all​ ​the​ ​resources​ ​gathered,​ ​the​ ​process​ ​then​ ​requires​ ​one​ ​to​ ​scour

over​ ​the​ ​items​ ​found​ ​and​ ​write​ ​up​ ​the​ ​findings​ ​in​ ​a​ ​journal​ ​or​ ​log.​ ​Using​ ​these​ ​findings,​ ​the​ ​final

part​ ​ends​ ​by​ ​creating​ ​awareness​ ​about​ ​the​ ​work,​ ​giving​ ​presentations​ ​to​ ​lawmakers,​ ​students,​ ​and

volunteer​ ​organizations,​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​preserve​ ​the​ ​site​ ​for​ ​further​ ​research.​ ​This​ ​job​ ​faces​ ​many

different​ ​challenges,​ ​not​ ​only​ ​legally,​ ​physical​ ​challenges​ ​play​ ​a​ ​role​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​According​ ​to

marine​ ​archaeologist​ ​Jessi​ ​Halligan,​ ​in​ ​an​ ​interview​ ​with​ ​a​ ​reporter​ ​from​ ​Discover​ ​named​ ​Steve

Potter,​ ​these​ ​hurdles​ ​often​ ​hinder​ ​their​ ​explorations.​ ​“​The​ ​water's​ ​really​ ​dark,​ ​so​ ​you​ ​can't​ ​see​ ​a
 McCurry​ ​10

long​ ​ways​ ​away,​ ​and​ ​you​ ​can't​ ​have​ ​as​ ​many​ ​people​ ​working​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time.​ ​Also,​ ​you​ ​can't

talk​ ​underwater,”​ ​(Potter).

Despite​ ​the​ ​differences,​ ​the​ ​two​ ​remain​ ​different​ ​sides​ ​of​ ​the​ ​same​ ​coin.​ ​All​ ​of​ ​the​ ​jobs

rely​ ​upon​ ​technology​ ​to​ ​assist​ ​them​ ​in​ ​their​ ​searches​ ​for​ ​the​ ​past.​ ​Some​ ​archaeologists​ ​base​ ​their

entire​ ​career​ ​off​ ​of​ ​searching​ ​for​ ​archaeological​ ​finds​ ​using​ ​technology​ ​from​ ​this​ ​day​ ​and​ ​age​ ​to

go​ ​above​ ​the​ ​ground​ ​in​ ​helicopters​ ​or​ ​even​ ​using​ ​satellites​ ​to​ ​look​ ​down​ ​from​ ​space​ ​and​ ​scouring

the​ ​Earth​ ​from​ ​that​ ​angle​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​Completing​ ​a​ ​task​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sky​ ​above,​ ​while​ ​requiring​ ​more

advanced​ ​training,​ ​accomplishes​ ​as​ ​much​ ​if​ ​not​ ​more​ ​than​ ​from​ ​the​ ​ground.​ ​Despite​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of

drones​ ​and​ ​unmanned​ ​flying​ ​machines,​ ​according​ ​to​ ​Geert​ ​Verhoeven,​ ​a​ ​fellow​ ​archaeologist,

“the​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​aerial​ ​archaeological​ ​information​ ​is​ ​still​ ​derived​ ​from​ ​oblique​ ​photographs

collected​ ​during​ ​observer-directed​ ​reconnaissance​ ​flights,”​ ​(Verhoeven)​ ​Not​ ​only​ ​do​ ​historians

use​ ​aircraft​ ​to​ ​see​ ​high​ ​above,​ ​another​ ​method​ ​of​ ​locating​ ​important​ ​sites​ ​involves​ ​using​ ​a

satellite​ ​to​ ​help​ ​in​ ​the​ ​search.​ ​Using​ ​these​ ​fancy​ ​new​ ​“toys”​ ​Sarah​ ​Parcak​ ​uses​ ​the​ ​technology

and,​ ​ ​“​Exploiting​ ​subtle​ ​and,​ ​to​ ​the​ ​naked​ ​eye,​ ​often​ ​invisible​ ​differences​ ​in​ ​topography,​ ​geology

and​ ​plant​ ​life,”​ ​(Tucker)​ ​paints​ ​a​ ​digital​ ​picture​ ​that​ ​can​ ​help​ ​others​ ​locate​ ​hidden​ ​treasures.

One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​oldest​ ​and​ ​most​ ​cultured​ ​career​ ​path​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world,​ ​archaeology​ ​today​ ​involves

using​ ​the​ ​tools​ ​of​ ​the​ ​future​ ​to​ ​find​ ​the​ ​remnants​ ​of​ ​the​ ​past.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​modern​ ​age,​ ​archaeologists

faces​ ​changes​ ​that​ ​force​ ​the​ ​career,​ ​and​ ​those​ ​who​ ​choose​ ​to​ ​follow​ ​it,​ ​to​ ​adapt​ ​to​ ​the​ ​modern​ ​age

by​ ​incorporating​ ​technology​ ​and​ ​innovation​ ​to​ ​an​ ​old​ ​career.​ ​This​ ​path​ ​has​ ​a​ ​diverse​ ​set​ ​of

choices​ ​that​ ​a​ ​person​ ​can​ ​follow,​ ​whether​ ​traveling​ ​across​ ​the​ ​desert,​ ​under​ ​the​ ​ocean,​ ​or​ ​through

the​ ​air​ ​by​ ​helicopter,​ ​archaeology​ ​requires​ ​more​ ​than​ ​simply​ ​a​ ​degree​ ​and​ ​a​ ​diploma,​ ​more

requirements​ ​include​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​mental​ ​toughness.​ ​A​ ​typical​ ​archaeologist​ ​could​ ​work
 McCurry​ ​11

on​ ​one​ ​project​ ​over​ ​a​ ​short​ ​period​ ​of​ ​time,​ ​or​ ​several​ ​larger​ ​projects​ ​over​ ​a​ ​longer​ ​period​ ​of​ ​time.

Despite​ ​all​ ​of​ ​these​ ​changes,​ ​archaeology​ ​remains​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​respected​ ​careers​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world,

due​ ​to​ ​its​ ​roots​ ​dating​ ​back​ ​to​ ​ancient​ ​times,​ ​the​ ​extensive​ ​history​ ​of​ ​the​ ​career,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​evolution

of​ ​the​ ​job​ ​with​ ​modern​ ​technology.

Works​ ​Cited

AIMA. "What Is Maritime Archaeology." ​Maritime Archaeology​. Australian Institute of

Maritime​ ​Archaeology,​ ​n.d.​ ​Web.​ ​23​ ​Feb.​ ​2017.

http://www.aima-underwater.org.au/what-is-maritime-archaeology/

"Archaeologists, Looking For Remnants Of The Past!." ​Phoebe Grant's Fascinating Stories Of

World​ ​Cultures​ ​&​ ​Customs​ ​(2005):​ ​12.​ ​MasterFILE​ ​Complete​.​ ​Web.​ ​2​ ​Jan.​ ​2017.

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,custuid&custid=s8455

861&db=f6h&AN=16219679&site=ehost-live&scope=site

"Archaeology." ​Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2016): 1p. 1. ​Funk & Wagnalls

New​ ​World​ ​Encyclopedia​.​ ​Web.​ ​2​ ​Jan.​ ​2017.

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861&db=funk&AN=AR133000&site=ehost-live&scope=site

​ ​ ​"Archaeology:​ ​Educational​ ​Requirements."​ ​Study.com/Archaeology​.​ ​Web.​ ​23​ ​Feb.​ ​2017.

http://study.com/articles/Archaeologist_Educational_Requirements_for_a_Career_in_Arc

haeology.html

"Biblical Archaeology." ​Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2016): 1p. 1. ​Funk &

Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia​. Web. 2 Jan. 2017.

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861&db=funk&AN=BI090000&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Michael R. Ash "Challenging Issues, Keeping the Faith." ​Deseret News Faith​. , n.d. Web. 23

Feb.2017.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705373151/Challenging-Issues-Keeping-the-Faith-T
 McCurry​ ​13

he-difference-between-Old-and-New-World-archaeology.html

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Douglas,​ ​Scott,​ ​Email​ ​Interview,​ ​Feb​ ​20.​ ​2017

Grimwade, Gordon. "Into The FUTURE." ​Appleseeds 17.2 (2014): 24. ​MasterFILE Complete​.

Web.​ ​2​ ​Jan.​ ​2017.

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861&db=f6h&AN=98689656&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Grimwade, Gordon. "Archaeologist At Work." ​Appleseeds 17.2 (2014): 14. ​MasterFILE

Complete​.​ ​Web.​ ​2​ ​Jan.​ ​2017.

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861&db=f6h&AN=98689651&site=ehost-live&scope=site

​"Leakey, Mary D(Ouglas)." ​Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia​, 2016, p. 1p. 1.

EBSCO​host​,

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Potter, Steven. "Q&A." ​Discover 27.10 (2016): 10. ​Academic Search Complete​. Web. 2 Jan.

2017.

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​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Rowan,​ ​Yorke.​ ​"Gods​ ​And​ ​Scholars:​ ​Archaeologies​ ​Of​ ​Religion​ ​In​ ​The​ ​Near​ ​East."​ ​Antiquity

90.353​ ​(2016):​ ​1387-1389.​ ​Academic​ ​Search​ ​Complete​.​ ​Web.​ ​22​ ​Feb.​ ​2017.

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 McCurry​ ​14

Sheldon, Natasha. "Ancient History and Archaeology." ​Ancient History and Archaeology​.

N.p.,​ ​n.d.​ ​Web.​ ​23​ ​Feb.​ ​2017.

http://www.ancienthistoryarchaeology.com/uncovering-herculaneum

TUCKER, ABIGAIL. "Space Archaeologist." ​Smithsonian 47.8 (2016): 38. ​MasterFILE

Complete​. Web. 2 Jan. 2017.

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Verhoeven, Geert, and Christopher Sevara. "Trying To Break New Ground In Aerial

Archaeology." ​Remote Sensing 8.11 (2016): 1-29. ​Academic Search Complete​. Web. 22

Feb.​ ​2017.

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861&db=a9h&AN=119798511&site=ehost-live&scope=site