28 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You usually split time between hands-on digging and paperwork. Mornings often start with a field briefing, then setting up grid squares, troweling, and recording finds with paper forms or tablets.
Afternoons are for labeling artifacts, entering data into Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Access, and taking photos for reports (often edited in Adobe Photoshop). Some days are fully office-based writing site reports or preparing maps in ESRI ArcGIS.
Start with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office because you’ll record finds, make tables, and write reports every day. Excel is the quickest way to manage field data and basic spreadsheets.
Next, learn ESRI ArcGIS for mapping sites and Microsoft Access if your project uses databases. Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Acrobat are useful for photos and final reports; learn Illustrator or InDesign later for publication-quality figures.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports about 8,990 employed under SOC 19-3091.00. The median pay is $70,770 per year; the lowest tenth is $49,050 and the top tenth is $108,060 (BLS).
Wages vary by region, employer (consulting firms vs. universities), and experience. Field seasons, overtime, and special skills like GIS can raise your pay.
Take an introductory archaeology field school or volunteer on local digs; many small museums and university projects accept volunteers for a season. This gives hands-on excavation, artifact recording, and lab work.
Also learn Excel and basic GIS (ESRI ArcGIS offers tutorials). Apply for technician posts that list Microsoft Office and fieldwork as requirements, and be ready to show photos or references from field supervisors.
They overlap but aren’t identical. Field technicians usually do the on-the-ground excavation, recording, and initial artifact processing. CRM archaeologists often design surveys, write reports, and make management recommendations.
Technicians often work for CRM firms and support those archaeologists, using the same tools (ESRI ArcGIS, Excel) but with less responsibility for permit decisions or grant writing.
Yes, AI can speed up drafting site descriptions, summarizing literature, or organizing notes, but don’t let it replace primary data. Always verify AI outputs against your field records, photos, and lab data.
Never use AI to make identifications of human remains or diagnostic artifacts without expert review. Keep original data in Excel/Access and ESRI ArcGIS, and record every AI-assisted step in your methodology.
Accurate recording and cataloging skills are the fastest way to be valuable: clear field notes, correct artifact labeling, and tidy Excel spreadsheets are essential. Supervisors need reliable data more than perfect excavation technique on day one.
If you already know basic ESRI ArcGIS mapping or can edit photos in Adobe Photoshop, you’ll stand out. But a clean context sheet, proper provenience labels, and consistent data entry beat flashy software skills if you must choose one.