Entry Level Qualification 

Graduate

Career Fields 

Humanities, Liberals Arts & Social Science

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

CUET PG

About Career 

1. Archaeologists are the experts who specialise in studying human activities in the past through the recovery of artefacts, architecture, biofacts, and cultural landscapes. As an archaeologist, you will examine, recover, and preserve evidence of human activity from past cultures. You will use your findings to interpret information about past environments and learn more about history, custom etc. Most of the archaeologist do historical research and analysis for government, museums, archaeology departments, non-profits, etc.

2. As an archaeologist, you will use the knowledge gained from social, physical and biological artefacts, and archaeological remains. You will examine and interpret the pre-historic, ancient or medieval ways of life, languages, culture, and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. You will also examine the customs, values, and social patterns of different cultures.

3. The archaeologist also manages and protect many archaeological sites. Some of you will work at historical sites and provide its protection or even educate people.

Key Roles And responsibilities

As an Archaeologist, depending on your field of specialisation, you would have the following roles and responsibilities:

1. You will work to recover, conserve and preserve all old books manuscripts, notes, records, artefacts, etc.

2. You will work to identify historical places such as buildings and work to conserve these places.

3. You will also present historical accounts to bring political, social, economic or geographic records.

4. You will be responsible for authenticating or rejecting any historical claim by people, government, organizations, etc.

5. You will preserve artefacts and put them in museums, visitor centres, and historical sites.

6. You will dig hidden places without any damage to potential historical site or artefacts.

7. You will study objects and structures recovered so that you can identify them and authenticate them and interpret their significance.

8. You will do research on past societies sites to answer any specific questions about them.

9. You will write, present and publish your reports about the site, the methodology of site extraction, artefacts collected and present your analysis and findings.

10. You will describe the physical properties of the artefacts like their size, material used, shape, Importance, etc.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies - Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – UG in B.A. (History/ Ancient Indian History & archaeology) – PG in History/ Ancient Indian History & archaeology – Ph.D. in Archaeology

After your Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in History/ Ancient Indian History & archaeology / similar subject (Honours or specialisation is an advantage) followed by a master’s degree in Arts stream in Archaeology.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies - Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – UG in B.A. (Archaeology) – PG in Archaeology

After your Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in History/ Ancient Indian History & archaeology / similar subject (Honours or specialisation is an advantage) followed by a master’s degree in Arts stream in Archaeology.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies - Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – UG in B.A. (Archaeology) – PG in Archaeology

After your Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Archaeology / Archaeology & Museology / Ancient Indian History & Archaeology similar subject (Honours or specialisation is an advantage) followed by a master’s degree in Arts stream in Archaeology.

Required Qualification & Competencies 

You can study for a Bachelor’s degree in History/ Ancient History / related course and then do a Master’s degree in:

1. Ancient History & Archaeology

2. Archaeology

3. Ancient Indian History & Archaeology

Doing a Ph.D. in any one of the above field or in a related field will help you to make a rewarding career.

Competencies Required

Interests

1. Investigative: You should have interests for Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or conceptual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision making and problem-solving.

2. Artistic: You should have interests for Artistic Occupations. Artistic occupations mostly involve working with creative ideas, art and designs. These occupations involve abstract or conceptual thinking, creative self-expression and often do not follow any set processes or rules for getting things done.

3. Social: You should have interests for Social Occupations. Social occupations involve helping or assisting others; these involve working with and communicating with people to provide various services; these may involve educating and advising others.

Abilities

1. Abstract Reasoning: The ability to understand ideas which are not expressed in words or numbers; the ability to understand concepts which are not clearly expressed verbally or otherwise.

2. Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic.

3. Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. For example, analysing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions.

4. Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

5. Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

6. Verbal Reasoning: The ability to think and reason with words; the ability to reason out ideas expressed in words.

7. Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

8. Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Knowledge

1. History and Archaeology: Knowledge of historical events and their causes, historical evidence, interpretations of the learning from historical events, influences of historical events on civilizations and cultures.

Skills

1. Active Learning: Focused and continuous learning from various sources of information, observation and otherwise for application in getting work done.

2. Communication in English: Skills in communicating effectively in writing as well as verbally with others in English language.

3. Communication in Foreign Languages: Skills in communicating effectively in writing as well as verbally with others in a foreign language such as French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Spanish, etc.

4. Communication in Vernacular Languages: Skills in communicating effectively in writing as well as verbally with others in a local or indigenous language such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Assamese, etc.

5. Critical Thinking: Skills in the analysis of complex situations, using of logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.

6. Instruction: Skills in training others how to do something.

7. Judgment and Decision Making: Skills in considering the pros and cons of various decision alternatives; considering costs and benefits; taking appropriate and suitable decisions.

8. Reading Comprehension: Skills in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

9. Teaching: Skills in teaching and educating others about various academic and applied subjects across different academic fields.

10. Writing: Skills in communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the readers.

Personality

1. You trust others sometimes but not always.

2. You are helpful to others sometimes.

3. You are self-satisfied sometimes but some other times you don't feel satisfied with your life and situations.

4. You are imaginative sometimes.

5. You prefer to experience new things and have new experiences sometimes.

6. You act independently sometimes but do not do so in some other times.

7. You are caring, supportive, sympathetic and kind to others sometimes. 

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

1. Most of the universities and college will hire you as a professor at the position of Junior Professor or Assistant Professor. If you are into research, then you will be hired at the position of research associate.

2. You can join the Indian Council of Historical Research and its state wings as Section Officer.

3. You can join the Archaeological Survey of India and its 29 different circles as Deputy Superintendent Officer.

4. You can also join the Archaeological Survey of India as Assistant Archaeologist.

5. You can join different government Museums of India (under different state government) as Deputy Superintendent Officer.

6. You can also join different government Museums of India (under different state government) as Curators.

7. You can join different History channels as Historians and Archaeologists.

You can find job opportunities at the following facilities:

1. All India Handicrafts Board, the ministry of education and with the departments of tourism

2. Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR)

3. Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)

4. Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)

5. National Archives of India

6. Colleges and Universities teaching Archaeology, Museology, and History

7. Private Museums, Public Museums, Art Galleries, etc.

8. Curators with different Historical monuments and heritage sites.

9. Cultural Centres of Indian Ministry of External Affairs

Specialisation Tracks In This Career

1. Historical Archaeologist

A historical archaeologist is a specialist who deals with the places, things and issues from the past with some written record or oral tradition still available. These records can actually complement the archaeologist’s evidence or even conflict with them.

2. Museologist

Museologists are the experts who specialise in the study of museums. They manage museums, and curate and preserve museum artefacts. As a Museologists, you will also create a manuscript for the museum and engage the public and educate them.

3. Bioarchaeologist

Bioarchaeologists are the experts who specialise in studying the animal bones from the archaeological sites.

4. Maritime Archaeologist

A maritime archaeologist is an archaeologist expert who specialised in the studies of physical remains of vessels, shore side facilities, port-related structures, human remains, cargoes and submerged landscapes in sea, lakes and rivers.

5. Ethnoarchaeologist

Ethnoarchaeologist specializes in the cultural study of people for understanding archaeological facts. As an ethnoarchaeologist, you will study material remain of the society to understand that society. You will thus recreate that ancient society, its lifestyle while studying these artefacts and material remains.

6. Forensic Archaeologist

Forensic archaeologists specialise in using their knowledge of evacuation techniques to ensure that all human remains are collected properly and can be accepted for forensic examination. They mostly work when it remains important for forensic tests are buried and need to be evacuated.

Career Growth

1. The career growth in university and college states from Assistant Professor and then Associate Professor, Professor and Professor Emeritus. Professors can also get administrative positions such as Director/Dean/Vice Chancellor, etc.

2. If you are hired as a research associate (JRF and SRF), then you will go on to become a Doctoral Research Fellow, then Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and then Historian in Progressive Grades. 

3. If you have joined Indian Council of Historical Research as Section officer, you would be then promoted to Assistant Director, Deputy Director, Member Secretary and then Director.

4. If you have joined Museums or ASI as Deputy Superintendent, then you will be promoted to Superintendent and then Director.

Salary Offered  

1. If you are joining teaching after your M.A., you can get about Rs. 45,000-50,000 a month in a college and after Ph.D., as an Assistant Profession, you will get about Rs. 65,000 – 70,000 a month. As an Associate Profession, you will get about Rs. 1,00,000-2,40,000 a month.

2. In Government jobs, such as with Archaeological Survey of India or with Indian Council of Historical Research, you will earn about Rs. 55,000-60,000 a month when you join after your Master’s degree. In the highest level, as the Director of an institution, you can get about Rs. 2,50,000 a month.

Monthly Earnings In Indian Rupee 

1. Entry level: 0 - 2 years of work experience

2. Junior Level: From 1 to 12 years of work experience

3. Mid Level: From 5 to 20+ years of work experience

4. Senior Level: From 10 to 25+ years of work experience (there could be exceptions in some high-end technical, financial, engineering, creative, management, sports, and other careers; also in the near future, people will reach these levels much faster in many careers and in some careers, these levels will have no meaning as those careers will be completely tech skill driven such as even now, there is almost no level in a Cyber Security Expert’s job)

Famous Personalities 

Not Available.

Work Activities 

1. Communicating with co-workers and others: Communicating with people in writing, verbally or otherwise inside your workplace and various other people who have professional relationships with your place of work including vendors, government officials, etc. or with people at large.

2. Creative thinking: Developing new ideas, concepts, innovative solutions to problems, newer ways of getting things done, designing products and services, creating work of art and craft, etc.

3. Decision making and problem-solving: Analysis of data and information; evaluation of alternative decisions and results of decisions; taking the right decisions and solving problems.

4. Getting Information and learning: Observing, hearing, reading, using computers, or otherwise obtaining information and learning from it.

5. Providing advice and consultation to others: Giving advice or consultation to others about various issues, conceptual matters, know-how, scientific matters, products or services.

6. Training and teaching: Understanding educational and training needs of others, developing training programs and educational programs, conducting training programs, teaching and instructing others.

7. Updating and using relevant knowledge: Keeping updated with the latest knowledge relevant to your fields of work and use of the relevant knowledge in getting things done.

8. Using computers for work: Using computers for day-to-day office work; using computer software for various applications in day-to-day professional work; entering data and process information; for writing.