CAREER IN ARCHAEOLOGY

Historians delve into significant phases of human activity and try to study its influences on life. Social, political, ethnic and cultural events of the past have been relived through narratives, archaeological discoveries, archival documents and historical evidences which have surfaced time and again through historical researches.

Knowledge and interest of the past leads to careers in history, archaeology and archives.

Archaeologists help preserve our heritage in the form of historical monuments and artifacts. Archaeologists, in India, need to have an idea of the cultural, social influences in a particular region. More recently, remote sensing is being used to collect information about sites that lie below the earth’s surface.

Archaeology is a multi-disciplinary subject which integrates knowledge of history and anthropology with geology, chemistry and even art. Archaeology can be either research related or field-oriented. A study of fossils, monuments, manuscripts, coins and excavated remains provides the researcher with material on which to base knowledge of the societies that existed in the ancient past. Detailed records of all need to be maintained in archives which are preserved and catalogued for ready reference.

There are three broad areas of work here and specialization can be in:

Numismatics: The past is restructured through a study of old coins, medals, seals, tokens, money and other related objects.

Epigraphy: The job involves deciphering inscriptions, edicts, and manuscripts. Inscriptions may appear on copper plates, stones, stupas, statues, or coins.

Museologists:  are concerned with the maintenance of a museum, the purchase and display, labeling of new and rare art collections, methods of preservation, repair of parchment, paper and microfilming of documents.
Other than the above:

Curators: A curator is the custodian of a museum and its financial and administrative matters. He maintains detailed records of each item including an assessment of its value, conservation, treatment, etc

The Prospects

The Archeological Society of India (ASI) employs a large number of people and specialists are in great demand for maintaining, investigating and reporting about the archeological sites and their condition. The ASI also maintains archeological departments in all states and at sites of historical significance. In some areas specialists dealing with different aspects of archaeology such as temple sites, Mughal period historians, Dravidian inscriptions and so on are selected to handle special assignments. Selection to the ASI is made through the UPSC and state PSCs.

There are also jobs with the National Archives of India which houses all historical data at its headquarters in Delhi and regional offices in Bhopal and Jaipur, and the National Museum in New Delhi and the many state museums across the country, as also specialized museums and organizations such as the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Defence Services that run and maintain their own museums, the Films Division where old films need to be preserved, the All India Handicrafts Board and others .

Research and training opportunities are also provided by the Indian Council of Historical Research, and INTACH. The historical division of the Ministry of External Affairs also takes on researchers in the Cultural Affairs Division. There are also several private collectors who provide employment for researchers and restorers.

Archeology and museums offer fascinating jobs for those interested in the past. But it requires an artistic, perceptive and probing mind.

Archaeologists are employed in museums, cultural centers, universities, and different departments of Government and other such related bodies. Apart from these, they are employed in different projects, which are taken by research institutions from time to time. The work requires meticulous patience and sometimes involves traveling to remote areas and handling a lot of fieldwork.

The Job

Archeologist’s jobs include –

• Identify possible sites where historical monuments / objects may be found
• Arrange for unearthing of historical monuments / objects
• Verifying authenticity and lineage of monuments / objects
• Epigraphy- involves deciphering inscriptions, edicts, and manuscripts which may appear on copper plates, stones, stupas, statues, or coins.
• Take up museology work connected with the preservation and maintenance of monuments and artifacts listed as ‘Protected Monuments’ and of national importance
• Take up conservation and restoration of artifacts such as are paintings, wall paintings, prints, ceramics, textiles, fossils, statues, monuments, arms and Armour, furniture, metalwork, and natural history objects
• Provide treatment involving undoing previous repair and restoration work
• Painstakingly cleaning, retouching and storing ancient objects
• Careful recording of all treatment for future use
• Ensure storage under correct climatic, light and humidity conditions.
• Numismatics - study of old coins, medals, seals, tokens, money and other related objects.

Personality Traits

• Enjoy knowledge & Research
• Deep interest in the past
• Logical and analytical thinking
• Grasp of finer details
• Art appreciation
• Creative
• Accurate
• Keen and accurate observer
• Ability to handle physical stress

Salary

• Typical starting jobs in these areas are in the forms of internships and are thus between Rs. 7,000 – 15,000 per month.
• Subsequently based on area specializations salaries would differ ranging from Rs. 25,000 – 50,000 per month. 

Study Route

• Class XII with history as one of the subjects.
• After Class XII (any subject, humanities preferred), graduation in Ancient, Medieval and Modern Indian History, fine arts, sociology, anthropology
• Postgraduates in history (ancient, modern or medieval), followed by diploma in archival study are recruited through tests conducted by the UPSC for jobs in the National Archives. The National Archives at Delhi houses all historical data, which has relevance to Indian culture and its past. The regional offices are at Bhopal and Jaipur. Students of classical languages like Persian, Sanskrit or Pali scripts or of Islamic history are trained and employed with Archaeological departments
• Some places to study -
• The National Museum of India, New Delhi - Master’s and PhD programmes in History of Art, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art, and Museology The Institute also offers certificate courses in art appreciation, and in Indian art and culture
• The Delhi Institute of Heritage Research and Management (affiliated to the GGS Indraprastha University) - Masters in Archaeology and Heritage Management, and in Conservation, Preservation and Heritage Management
• PG Diploma in Archaeology Delhi Institute of Heritage Research & Management
• 18 A, Satsang Vihar Marg, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi
• School of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath, New
• University of Calcutta, Senate House, 87 College Street Kolkata, West Bengal
• National Archives of India, Janpath, New Delhi
• MA in Archaeology Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 
• Awadhesh Pratap Singh University, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh
• University of Allahabad, University Road, Allahabad, UP
• Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Sri Nagar, Garhwal, Uttaranchal
• Kurukshetra University, Haryana
• Panjab University, Sector 14, Chandigarh
• Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Pachpedi Jabalpur, MP
• Doctor Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Gour Nagar, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
• Gurarat University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• ARCHIVAL STUDIES - PG Diploma in Archives Keeping (Part-Time) , Annamalai Universitym, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu

MUSEOLOGY  -

• PG Diploma in Museology The National Museum Institute of New Delhi
• MA in Museology Jiwaji University, Vidya Vihar, Gwalior
• The School of Archival Studies, attached to the National Archives, runs short-term courses for professionals and those interested in the subject. These courses cover a diploma in archival studies, management of records, reprographics covering microfilming and handling of automated information, and information science.

Colleges Overseas

USA

• Bard College
• Boston University
• Columbia College
• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
• Princeton University
• Tufts University
• University of California
• Washington University
• Yale University

United Kingdom

• Aberystwyth, University Of Wales
• Queen’s University
• Birkbeck College, University of London
• Birmingham University
• Cambridge University
• Oxford University
• Kent University

Australia

• Flinders University
• Western New South Wales University
• The University of Queensland
• James Cook University
• University of Southern Queensland

Source: Compass One

Date: 27th Nov., 2009

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