Laboratory Specialities
These can be academic research specialties for faculty, full-time jobs working for professional archaeology firms (even at the BA and MA level) or on big research projects, or independent self-employed consulting:
Osteologist Faunal analyst Archaeoethnobotanist Stable isotope analyst
Ceramic analyst Lithic analyst Materials conservator DNA analyst
Heritage Management
Site managers for parks, other public lands and heritage sites
Environmental assessment for consulting firms or government agencies
Preservation planning – can be local, state or national government or international
Information-Based Specialties
Computer-based artifact and site imaging
Geographic Information Systems for archaeology
Museum Positions
There are many different types of museum that can offer a wide variety of career opportunities. A museum curator’s role varies a lot depending on the size of the institution but can include academic study of collections, development of exhibitions, writing labels and interpretation, publishing catalogs and studies, lecturing and giving talks to the general public. Curators and Collections Managers also manage the day-to-day care, conservation, access and development of collections. They may organize exhibition loans to other museums or may be involved in outreach and education projects with local communities.
Museum positions usually require a graduate degree (M.A./M.S or Ph.D) in either the collections specialism (e.g archaeology) and/or a general museum management or conservation degree. Museums also look for candidates who have practical experience working with collections and may have interned or volunteered for a museum.