You’ll locate, record and excavate sites and artefacts using the latest technology. The data you collect and interpret will help to understand the dynamic history of diverse human cultures over thousands of years. You could work in Australia, or take your skills all over the world.
Most archaeologists work in cultural heritage management, where they are responsible for the arch …. preservation laws. You could work in government, for commercial heritage firms, community organisations, mining companies, museums or parks. Regardless of the path you choose, you’ll be a highly skilled professional within this high-growth occupation.
Ever been told that archaeology graduates struggle to find jobs, let alone build a career? Well, guess what? The reality is completely different. Today, archaeologists are highly sought-after with most employment coming from within the booming cultural heritage industry.
Opportunities for archaeologists are spread across the country. From undertaking archaeological surveys in the remote iron ore landscape of Western Australia’s Pilbara region, carrying out salvage excavations of 19th-century homes in the middle of Adelaide, or developing cultural heritage management and conservation plans for Australia’s historic and Indigenous sites, archaeologists are urgently needed to fill these roles.
Archaeologists today can work for a range of employers including:
This is the primary job for archaeologists today. There are laws in every state and territory that require any development project such as building a mine or road to undergo a cultural heritage assessment to identify and determine their significance and how best to manage any sites that may be impacted by such developments (historic sites, Indigenous sites such as rock art and stone artefacts, etc.).
Any number of specialists may be brought in to help including stone artefact experts, and geoarchaeologists who help to understand how archaeological sites formed over time. Archaeological and cultural heritage expertise and advice are critical to properly managing and safeguarding Australia’s diverse cultural heritage.
Curators develop exhibitions about certain topics such as the archaeology of the Maya civilization, conservators focus on the restoration of objects held in museum collections, especially those that are fragile, while collections managers look after objects including their cataloguing and storage, assisting with the development of collections through acquisition, facilitating research into the collections, and working in partnership with Indigenous communities in repatriation efforts.
Developing, managing and delivering public programs for various organisations such as the National Trust, schools and museums that are designed to share stories about archaeology, cultural heritage and museum exhibitions.
Heritage officers and advisors are employed to provide advice and guidance concerning cultural heritage matters, and in some instances implement cultural heritage management plans. These people are employed by government departments at the local, state/territory and Commonwealth level, industry (mining and energy companies such as Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Woodside, SA Energy etc.) and Indigenous corporations (among others).
Forensic archaeologists use archaeological techniques to investigate human burials and skeletal remains. They are employed by state and federal police, defence forces, government heritage management agencies, archaeological consultants, museums, and global organisations like the United Nations.
Activities involve location, recovery, and analysis of human remains. Forensic archaeologists undertake projects involving burial site disturbances related to development projects, mining, and natural erosion; human skeletal remains discovered by the general public or police; soldiers missing in action; genocide and war crimes; repatriation of indigenous ancestral remains and management of contemporary cemeteries.
Maritime archaeologists are trained in the same fundamental techniques of survey and interpretation as terrestrial archaeologists, but with a focus on coastal, intertidal and underwater archaeology. They have specialist skills that may include diving, boat handling, sonar survey and underwater photography. They are also likely to have specialist knowledge of historical ships, aircraft or submerged ancient landscapes lost to past sea level rise. Maritime archaeologists are employed by federal and state governments, universities and archaeological companies working with coastal and offshore developers.
Besides the long-established, “regular” career paths, there are also a number of newly emerging, niche jobs available to Archaeology graduates:
Stories about archaeology capture the public’s attention. Content writers create and share stories about topics such as archaeological projects, recent discoveries and debates, and share these with media outlets including popular archaeology websites and podcasts. Authors on the other hand create fictional or non-fictional stories about archaeology that are published.
Digital archaeology is an emerging field or sub-discipline. Digital archaeologists gather historical and archaeological source material to create scientifically accurate 2D and 3D digital reconstructions of ancient and historic sites. They are likely to learn survey techniques like 3D modelling, laser scanning, and photogrammetry and to have advanced photography skills. They produce content in the form of digital art and graphics, 3D visualisations or Virtual and Augmented Reality experiences for historic sites. Digital archaeologists may work as freelancers or are employed by archaeological consultancies around the world.
Some archaeologists are also freelance researchers who work with media production companies to develop content for documentaries or other programs. This type of work involves searching for content, producing data to accurately tell the story of the archaeology of a topic, selecting locations for shoots and so on.
“Flinders has one of the best Maritime Archaeology postgraduate programs in the world. The staff are very kind and supportive to students, and I am lucky to be here. Flinders is the only Master of Maritime Archaeology program that provides a field school and scientific diving training, which is the most exciting part of my studies. If you want to learn maritime archaeology and gain diving skills that lead you to your future job, please consider studying at Flinders. ”
Learn more about Archaeology at Flinders with Zandria Farrell, Archaeology Alumni.
Ever wondered what Archaeology is all about? It's time to set the record straight and debunk some common misconceptions that have been floating around.
In world-first research, Flinders University archaeologists will lead an international consortium.
Our incredible teaching and research staff within the Archaeology sector are experts in their professions and well-connected to industry.
Associate Professor Maritime Archaeology: Dr Wendy van Duivenvoorde
Growing up in the Netherlands, a nation famed for its maritime heritage, Wendy van Duivenvoorde became fixated on the sea. Drawn to archaeology at university, she jumped at the opportunity to volunteer on dives at maritime archaeological sites, sealing her fate as a scholar captivated by the histories of the deep.
Dr van Duivenvoorde came to Australia to be involved in the study of the Batavia, a Dutch East India Company vessel built in Amsterdam that was wrecked on its maiden voyage on the West Australian coast, at a time when the waters of the southern hemisphere were largely uncharted – and 150 years before Captain Cook mapped Australia’s eastern coastline. The loss of the Batavia and the trail of mutiny and murder that followed the disaster fostered huge interest in the excavation of the wreck after it was rediscovered in 1963.
Associate Professor Space Archaeology: Dr Alice Gorman
Dr Alice Gorman is an internationally recognised leader in the field of space archaeology. Her research on space exploration has been featured in magazines such as National Geographic and New Scientist. She is a faculty member of the International Space University's Southern Hemisphere Space Program in Adelaide and tweets as @drspacejunk.
Alice has worked extensively in Indigenous heritage management, providing advice for mining industry, urban development, government departments, local councils and Native Title groups in NSW, WA, SA and Queensland. She is also a specialist in stone tool analysis, and the Aboriginal use of bottle glass after European settlement.
Associate Professor of Archaeological Science: Dr Ian Moffat
Dr Ian Moffat is an archaeological scientist who mainly works with geological techniques. His principal research focus is examining the effect of climate variation on human evolution based on sediments from archaeological rock shelter sites in South Africa, Indonesia and Australia. Applying methods including geophysics, sediment analysis and isotope geochemistry, he is developing new climate proxies and understanding the depositional history of these sites.
A related area of interest is the isotopic and trace element analysis of biogenic materials (including tooth, bone and otoliths) to examine mobility, diet, maternal behaviour and climate. This includes the analysis of the mobility of animals in Palaeolithic France and Israel, the maternal behaviour of early hominins and the diet and mobility of colonial era migrants in Adelaide, using recent developments in the field of laser ablation analysis to undertake spatially resolved in-situ measurements.
Professor of Indigenous Archaeology: Dr Claire Smith
Claire Smith is an anthropological archaeologist who works primarily with Indigenous communities. She analyses rock art, statues, monuments and memorials, graves, modern material culture, and social media. She has undertaken archaeological, ethnoarchaeological and anthropological research with Australian Aboriginal communities in the Barunga region, Northern Territory, every year since 1990 and with Ngadjuri people in South Australia since 1998.
As the twice-elected President of the World Archaeological Congress (2003-2014), Claire is committed to intellectually enriching academia by strengthening the global impact of research by scholars from low-income countries.
Living and studying overseas presents you with the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture while continuing your tertiary study at one of Flinders University’s 70+ overseas partner universities.
Why wait until you graduate to see the world? Let our program offer you the educational adventure of a lifetime.
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