Urban archaeologists study the history of cities through excavations, archival research, and site investigations. They analyze layers of culture and civilization to learn about a city’s history, residents, and significant events. They may work for government agencies, private companies, and educational institutions.
An urban archaeologist studies the history of cities, through direct evidence found at sites, as well as documentary materials such as historical records. Members of this field often hold advanced degrees in archeology, anthropology, or a related field and may work for government agencies, private companies, and educational institutions. Your work may include excavations, archival searches, and site investigations following the discovery of objects during maintenance and similar activities.
Some human cities are hundreds or even thousands of years old, with a rich archaeological record. As people settled and these cities grew, residents discarded the waste, built on top of the city’s older layers, and lived out their lives. An urban archaeologist investigates these layers of culture and civilization. This can provide more information about a city’s history, its residents, and specific events in the past. Significant events such as fires, mass deaths and floods will be recorded in the archaeological record.
Archival research can be an important part of urban archaeology. This includes examining historical property records such as lot, deed, and title maps. Newspapers, magazines and other documents can provide additional information about who lived where and how they lived. Sketches and other artwork can offer information about what structures looked like, which can help an urban archaeologist make decisions about how to approach a site. These records together can add context to the findings.
People may be called to a location because artifacts are found while people are performing maintenance, preparing for construction, or disturbing the grounds of a garden. An urban archaeologist may also be required to carry out a site assessment before new construction begins. When lots are left empty after demolition and catastrophes, they can provide a treasure trove of information for an urban archaeologist. In cities built on landfill, a common tactic, the lot can contain layers of rubbish from previous generations that provide important clues about their lives.
This work may include exploration of ancient and modern modern cultures. An urban archaeologist can converse with historians and other interested parties during the excavation of the site. Engineers, for example, might want to study how ancient retaining walls were built, while religious scholars might be interested in deep discoveries at religious sites. Excavations underway around the world provide many opportunities for fieldwork and ongoing research to support discovering the context of the discoveries. Some cities also maintain one or more archaeologists on staff to participate in the collection and preservation of history as a public service.
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