What is Archaeology?
Archaeology is the study of past cultures and the way of living of these people based on the remains found in those areas. The remains can be anything ranging from bones to coins and even buried cities. Archaeologists are the people who study these archaeological sites and study about the past.
All you newbie out there with a love of ancient archaeology! Here are some simple tips for you to get started with the archaeology. First of all you need to have a passion for archaeology. You should literally live for it. You should love its magic. Love the adventure involved in it. Before going on any expeditions, first learn about archaeology. Read every book you can find on it. It will help you in increasing your knowledge. The more you know the more fun it will be. It always pays to know a foreign language. So learn some languages, German, French etc. But most importantly learn Arabic. As Egypt has some great archaeological sites and they have lots of archaeological books, so it would be very helpful for you if you knew Arabic. Moreover, not many archaeologists know this language, so you will have an advantage over them. Learn about different subjects also like Math and Science. They help in the long run. Study of Archaeology involves usage of chemistry, biology and other high technologies also, like the knowledge of CT scanning comes in handy when you have to examine ancient bodies.
You may think that an excavation is the only thing that the archaeologists do, but it is only one part of their work. The archaeologists have to plan about the excavation; have to analyze and record their finds. Archaeologists have to carry out archaeological survey for artifacts. Moreover, they might have to take aerial photographs for showing the ancient settlements. Also they may have to do some tests in laboratories like the radio carbon dating. They also have to do analysis, interpretation & dissemination along with the excavation.
Furthermore, archaeologists also make films about their findings. So it is beneficial to know various technologies along with studying about archaeology. If possible, visit different archaeological sites and most importantly visit Egypt, just to get the taste. Keep a record of everything you find. Mention the exact location of your site and write about any changes you see there. These things help in learning a lot about our history. If the found item is small, pick it up cautiously with your hands and put it in a plastic bag. Make an entry about it in your record book, with a brief description about it along with its drawing or a photograph. If the found item is large then consult the conservator about it.
If you want to excel in the field of archaeology, then you should be up to date about the archaeology news, the ongoing research on archaeology, anthropology archaeology, and the scientific breakthroughs in it. Not be limited to just your own work.
Moreover, you should be in a good physical health too for excavations. It is a tedious work. You should also be capable of writing in a good, well organized and methodical manner, as you will have to write about your findings with great details. What good is your find, if you cannot tell other people about it? Remember to handle all the objects very carefully. They might have become very fragile with time. Above all, be adventurous!