In some areas studies concentrate on art, while elsewhere, as in Australia, the emphasis is on social and economic interpretations. While the impressive cities, temples and statues of complex civilisations are undeniably appealing, archaeologists more commonly concentrate on the more mundane activities and objects of daily life. Interest is continually stimulated in all areas by the constant inflow of new information from excavations and surveys, and by the rapid development of new ideas, techniques, and approaches to interpretations of the past. The broad nature of archaeology provides many different types of work. Most archaeologists do spend a good deal of time in the field both looking for and recording archaeological sites, or excavating them.
Archaeological fieldwork is carried out in all parts of Australia, often in very remote regions.
Our archaeologists also work in Africa, Melanesia, the Pacific, the Mediterranean and Europe. Field trips may last for periods of up to three or four months in any one year. Conditions are sometimes difficult and the work arduous. More time, however, is spent working on the results of the fieldwork - analysing the finds and their context, and preparing material for publication. Here archaeologists make use of other sets of research skills.