Archaeology internships come in two types: field and laboratory. Field internships involve excavation and note-taking, while laboratory internships involve cleaning, categorizing, and displaying artifacts. Completing both types is beneficial for future career options.
The two main types of internships in archeology are field or laboratory positions. Each type of internship provides a different look at the overall archaeological degree course, how to find historical artifacts and categorize them. It is possible to undertake both internships consecutively for a comprehensive educational experience.
Field archeology internships are the well-known excavation projects that uncover buried bones or other human artifacts such as pots and tools. Interns will learn proper brushing techniques to preserve the artifacts’ integrity while slowly removing them from the floor. Along with physical discovery, interns typically take extensive notes and learn to use a camera effectively to record the detailed excavation process from multiple angles.
An important practical work during field archeology internships is learning to use measuring instruments such as a total station. These instruments take a lot of practice to record the angular position and dimensions of the excavated area; devices are also used to determine the extent of excavation, such as contour lines and ground elevations. Experienced archaeologists typically work alongside interns to ensure that all instrumentation data is correct and accurate.
Laboratory archeology internships are mostly found at universities or museums. Much of the historical discovery work is performed in a controlled environment; Interns can use specialized cleaning agents to remove impurities from excavated artifacts and observe the object’s true outer surface. Markings and engravings are typically photographed and analyzed for historical purposes.
Working with computers and databases is common in laboratory archeology internships; each artifact needs to be labeled and categorized in the facility’s main database. Entering large amounts of data into the computer requires strict attention to detail to avoid costly mistakes. Some interns may have certain batches of data analyzed before proceeding to ensure that all artifacts are correctly entered into the database.
Museum staff typically organize artifacts for public display. A large animal skeleton will need to be accurately pieced together for display purposes; the intern will oversee construction of the skeleton and correct any problematic bone connections. In addition, interns will verify the historical accuracy of the newly created displays within the museum. For example, a historic Mayan pot will not be placed in the Aztec display; the intern must ensure that artifacts are not displayed incorrectly.
Many degree programs stipulate that both stages must be completed for graduation requirements. Laboratory and field work gives prospective graduates a glimpse of possible future career options. Most archaeological employers prefer candidates with both types of internship experiences.
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