I'm a archaeologist AMA

[lizzybennet1926]

As it says really as I often get asked questions irl

What new technologies are being developed or in the pipeline in archaeology, what will archaeologists in 100 years be doing?

do you imagine the remains of our society being discovered by archaeologists in the distant future?

When did people first start practicing archaeology and digging up evidence from the past?

If you could time travel which historical period would you go back to?

What's your favourite dinosaur?

I don't really have a question, but for people who are interested in archaeology, but lack any background in it, it's really worth looking to see what community archaeology projects are local to you. Usually they don't require much experience, training or knowledge, but it's a great way of learning about archaeology as a volunteer - and not all of it requires digging.

Completely agree with OP that when you have that moment... when you're the first person to see something for hundreds of years, the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, your stomach fishleaps, and tears spring in your eyes. It's like reaching out and holding their hand. I'll never be an archaeologist, but I love that connection. And the wild speculation that follows

Sorry, as you were...

I didn't work on time team but I have friends who did and I've worked with Phil.
Sometimes you find clothing and footwear it all depends on where the body was found, those things are more common in the near east. Jewellery is often found, beads especially. I've also found Roman shoes and hair in the Uk. The hair is always incredible a properly tangible link to someone.
experience generally guides you as to what was likely to have been caused by post mortem activity eg ploughing, dropping or pipe laying in the area. Usually injuries that caused or occurred just before death are clear and of a certain type. Disease is also usually identifiable and I find that fascinating as it gives you a real insight into the symptoms someone would have been living with/ experiencing.

Lol to the dinosaur question, people always ask me that and it's Parasaurolophus, though I know nothing about dinosaur bones

If I could travel back in time I'd either go to Babylon at the time of Alexander the Great, or to the royal court at Amarna.

Is Phil as nice in real life as he is on Time Team, he always seems so willing and happy to share his knowledge with the younger team members.

He is lovely and very helpful in my experience, talks very fast though!

On the back of this ive started watching time team from the beginning.

Thanks for answering questions.

Some new ones

Does hollywood's representation of archaeology ever get it right?

I was watching a cheesy channel 5 film that had an archaeologist making a discovery in a field that was clearly wet soil. But loe and behold, a find! And a close up on dry soil it annoyed me. must get out more

How difficult is it to get funding for digs?
And permission? Is there 101 layers of red tape to go through?

Is finding employment easy? My son is doing an Archaeology and Anthropology BA. He's spent the last few summer's involved in digging up a Saxon village, and seems to be interested in the environmental archaeology particularly.
My husband and I joke that paying off his student debt won't ever be an issue, as he probably won't ever earn enough!

blossomcat Finding work isn't usually difficult especially in summer if you are flexible and can move around and go where the work is. I've literally lived all over the Uk working on various digs. But if you specifically want to stay in one place then yes it's harder, even on a permanent contract I have to travel a fair bit.
The student loan thing is pretty accurate I have only started repaying it recently nobody goes into archaeology for the money. Having said that if you later go into management or teaching you can be pretty well paid and environmental archaeologists/geophysicists etc are often paid a little more because of the additional training they have and the fact there's not enough of them!

Most of the archaeology carried out in the Uk is commercial archaeology so funding isn't really a issue, it's the law. We have very progressive laws in this area compared to some countries. There is always red tape but it's st up in such a way to safeguard our heritage.
There is a surprisingly amount of paperwork we actually do though, context sheets, report writing, body record pages, they never seem to show those bits :)
Funding for private research digs over here is hard to come by, but it does happen. Lottery grants being the most usual method of funding.

OP, this is the best AMA yet! So interesting! If I had my time again I would definitely work in my this field!

Triedspice2 thanks :) it's never too late to become a archaeologist, I know lots of people in their 50s/60s who retrain because they have a passion for it.

How hard do you think it would be to get back into the work, when you've had your education ages ago, with not a great amount of work in the field since? Is it more common still for digs to be full of recent graduates?

I had my BA in arch 15 years ago, and haven't been on a dig since 2005!

Definitely Possible, there are a lot of recent graduates still but there are definitely a lot more more mature archaeologists too. You could apply under a trainee scheme explaining your career break if you feel you need to recap or just apply for a site assistant role I recently accepted a site assistant who was on her first dig at 56. Not much has changed in 15 years.

Thanks for your response.
Another question I have, is doing a dig physically arduous? It always looks hard in the knees, back and neck to be kneeling that close to the earth!

What do you think about the archaeologists going on strike for decent pay and conditions in Ireland? I have seen archaeologists destroyed by field work. It is not a dream job.

www.itv.com/news/2018-07-19/archaeologists-strike-for-second-day-in-pay-dispute/
Ireland has more protection for its heritage than the UK I believe.

You do need to be reasonably physically fit but you get used to it.
I only have one arm that works properly and a dodgy back following my youngest sons birth and I can still work on site. There are less strenuous roles for example excavating a skeleton is less physically demanding than ditch digging.

I don't feel qualified to comment really on the Ireland situation as I haven't worked there in over 15 years. Pay should definitely be improved but then again I've seen a massive difference in pay levels and the number of permeant contracts offered which allow for a mortgage etc since I started. I personally am better paid now than one of my sil who is a head of year teacher in a secondary school but I do agree that starting pay rates should be higher.

I don't claim that's it's everyone's dream job, only that it's mine.

I have had many chances to leave field work to work in a lab or in a slightly different capacity but I personally love it and will be excavating until I'm nearly a skeleton myself :)
Others I've known have chosen to leave field work, which is also great. Each to their own.

Does being an author on the subject appeal to you?

Definitely and I've actually had several articles published in mainstream magazines, and a couple in journals.

What’s the worst bit of your job?

The rain!
Bottom of a ditch for weeks when it won't stop raining = not fun.