About This Career

Studies the origin, development, and behavior of human beings. May study the way of life, language, or physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. May engage in systematic recovery and examination of material evidence, such as tools or pottery remaining from past human cultures, in order to determine the history, customs, and living habits of earlier civilizations.

This career is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics cluster Science and Mathematics pathway.

A person in this career:

• Collects information and makes judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
• Researches, surveys, or assesses sites of past societies and cultures in search of answers to specific research questions.
• Writes about and presents research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
• Assesses archeological sites for resource management, development, or conservation purposes and recommend methods for site protection.
• Collects artifacts made of stone, bone, metal, and other materials, placing them in bags and marking them to show where they were found.
• Studies objects and structures recovered by excavation to identify, date, and authenticate them and to interpret their significance.
• Compares findings from one site with archeological data from other sites to find similarities or differences.
• Plans and directs research to characterize and compare the economic, demographic, health care, social, political, linguistic, and religious institutions of distinct cultural groups, communities, and organizations.
• Gathers and analyzes artifacts and skeletal remains to increase knowledge of ancient cultures.
• Describes artifacts' physical properties or attributes, such as the materials from which artifacts are made and their size, shape, function, and decoration.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Overnight travel