They survey and excavate archaeological sites, record, catalog, and study the unearthed items. By carefully analyzing their findings, they reconstruct earlier cultures, study their histories and determine their influence on modern life. Many archaeologists are employed as college teachers, or museum curators. Their duties include field work and research. Other job types include private contract archaeologists, who survey and excavate archaeological remains at sites scheduled for construction projects, or other physical disturbances such as dams and highways.
Field work includes surveying a site and then excavating.
Research activities take place after the field work. They identify, classify, preserve, and reconstruct archaeological sites, and artifacts. Teachers in colleges or universities prepare the lesson plans, present classroom lectures, and arrange and direct student field work and laboratory activities. Curators are responsible for organization, classification, and preservation of archaeological exhibits and collections under their care. Graduate study leading to a Master s degree and preferably a doctoral degree is necessary to qualify as a professional archaeologist.