Classical archaeologists excavate and piece together items found at dig sites in the Mediterranean region to learn about ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. They also study history extensively and may become university professors or write books about their discoveries. Job prospects are limited.
A classical archaeologist focuses primarily on early Roman and Greek civilizations, as well as other ancient civilizations in the Mediterranean region. When conducting archaeological digs in these areas, a classical archaeologist excavates items and begins the arduous process of putting the items together to try to discover what life was like in ancient Greece and ancient Rome. These items can include pottery, coins, fabrics, and building remains. A classical archaeologist is primarily interested in ancient Greece and Rome, so he or she may spend a great deal of time in the Mediterranean region.
One task a classical archaeologist might be involved in is participating in an archaeological dig. Each dig participant has a specific job at the dig site, such as digging trenches, categorizing finds, or managing the dig. In the Mediterranean, an excavation can take place in a densely populated city or in a rural countryside. Dig sites vary, so an archaeologist must be prepared to work in a variety of conditions.
While participating in an archeological dig is what many people think of when they think of archaeology, archaeologists do a little more than that. A greater part of a classical archaeologist’s time is spent reviewing items found at dig sites to determine which items belong together, when and how they were used, and why they were used. This process can take many years because most artifacts are found in small, broken pieces.
Archaeologists don’t just review pieces found at dig sites to piece together the historical puzzle. They also study history extensively to learn the context in which items appeared and were used. Through their research, they know more about the culture they are studying and can more accurately describe what life might have been like and the purposes for which the items could have been used.
A classical archaeologist might also write books about his discoveries. These books are of interest to many people, such as those interested in ancient civilizations, those interested in becoming archaeologists, and other archaeologists in the field. These books can sometimes be used as texts for university courses in classical archaeology.
There are a limited number of jobs available at the dig sites; many archaeologists choose to become university professors. A classical archaeologist may teach classes on ancient Greek or Roman civilizations, classical archaeology, general archeology or archaeological practices. Although it is quite common for archaeologists to become university professors, job prospects are still limited, especially for classical archaeologists.
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