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Certified Professional Archaeologist???
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:44 am
by Barracuda
One of the few places that hire archaeologists outside the academic world are state departments of transportation. They check for burial sites on roadway construction sites, and develop plans to deal with them according to federal regulations. In California they are required to be "Certified Professional Archaeologists"
Any one know what this means, or what is required to be one?
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:54 am
by marduk
are you sure you're not mixing up certified archaeological surveyors with professional Archaeologists
The certified archaeological surveyor assists professional archaeologists in the task of identifying and protecting significant cultural resources that may exist in a specific area
to become a certified archaeological surveyor you need to attend the relative course held by the authority that you want to work for
normally you already have to be working for them as a professional in one field to be accepted for a course which will get you your certificate
hence certified. this is an insurance requirement more than an archaeological qualification. you won't get a job with the local museum
you will then be sent out to assist professional archaeologists in the field
you know how to become a professional archaeologists I assume
Re: Certified Professional Archaeologist???
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:09 pm
by Beagle
Barracuda wrote:One of the few places that hire archaeologists outside the academic world are state departments of transportation. They check for burial sites on roadway construction sites, and develop plans to deal with them according to federal regulations. In California they are required to be "Certified Professional Archaeologists"
Any one know what this means, or what is required to be one?
'Cuda - this may help some. It has the links to get you where you want to go if nothing else. This is for California, and each state may be a little different.
http://www.indiana.edu/~e472/cdf/training/purpose.htm
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:38 pm
by Barracuda
Thanks, guys!
There is a position in the California State Department of Transportation called a ""Certified Professional Archaeologist"
A "Professional Archaeological Surveyor" also sounds like fun! I was a surveyor many, many years ago, although most of my skills are now obsolete, I enjoyed it very much.
My son is in his sophmore year, and when he graduates I need to rack up a few more years in state goverment to increase my state pension. I would not mind going back to school for a while to train for something more interesting that stocastic traffic forecast modeling

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:25 am
by Digit
A dull job Cuda is a slow death! Prior to retiring I had 13 different employers and 17 different job titles. Anything to keep ahaed of the boredom!
To be honest I was very lucky. The great aviator Sir Tommy Sopwith was asked on his 90th birthday to what did he owe his success.
He replied, 'Being the right man in the right place at the right time!'
It's a very great help.
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:36 am
by Charlie Hatchett
He replied, 'Being the right man in the right place at the right time!'
I agree. Doing what you love, and excel at, is a good way to insure you'll do well, on all dimensions.
I've also contemplated going back to school, to receive an archeology degree. I'm pretty sure I'd piss all my professors off, though.

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:49 am
by Digit
Guaranteed Charlie. Archaeology is moving faster now than at any time I can remember, and schools, at whatever level, tend, I have found, to teach the agreed doma. Independent mindedness tends not to be encouraged.
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:27 pm
by Barracuda
Actually, I find what I do interesting, but I don't have anyone to talk to about it.
The output from my models is input into air quality models. Given the air quality issues in California, it can get stressful
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:46 pm
by Digit
Could have done with you here recently Cuda. I live a couple of miles inland from the Atlantic. A mile up the road from me is a WW2 airfield which a Dutch business man decided, with our money, he was going to turn into a regional airport. Many local people were horrified. I was amazed. Then I became worried when he said that nobody else in Britain knew how to run an airport. He is big in waste management???
I was asked to put forward some arguments against the developement.
The sea mists here can be so thick you can't see your feet! The wind speed record is 106 mph! This is one one the wettest areas in the UK. I explained all this to his advisors, they didn't know!
No airport.
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:55 pm
by marduk
I live a couple of miles inland from the Atlantic
did you move to ireland then Roy
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:02 pm
by Digit
When gales blow from the SW, where I live they miss Ireland. The breakers roll in uninterrupted from the Atlantic.
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:19 pm
by Beagle
The sea mists here can be so thick you can't see your feet! The wind speed record is 106 mph! This is one one the wettest areas in the UK.
Don't forget to get your Vitamin D in that climate. Very important.

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:27 pm
by Digit
Same as where you live Beag, its not like that all the time, just often enough to be interesting. The last really bad storm put 14 ft of water in the town centre, stripped the roads clean down to the bedrock, washed away a back hoe loader, cleared a car park of 40/50 vehicles and took out the sea wall. It's also one of the mildest areas in UK, we haven't had any sub zero temps this winter and currently our heating has also not been needed.
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:37 pm
by Beagle
Same as where you live Beag,
Yep - except that you're a lot farther north, preventing you from getting as much sunlight on your skin.
Plus some us retired guys are indoors on the computer most of the day (some younger ones too). Sounds like you have your bases covered though Digit.

Employment.
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:34 pm
by fossiltrader
I not sure on u.s requirements but many of us try shovelbums for a while it a great way to get experience and meet people though it not a great income cheers.