A job that I would like to practise in the future is archeologist. I have chosen it for several reasons.

First of all, I have always been fond of the past, the origins of human being and the ancient world of
Rome and Greece. I find it really interesting to get to know how men were organized in tribes, how
they survived in a hostile world and how they expressed their believes through art. it's so appealing
because we know very little about these matters, although they are crucial for our present lives.

Besides, I think that an archeologist must have a very satisfying life, since it is a job which
involves sharing the discoveries with the general public. This way the results of an archeological
search can be crucial for the changes in our notion of ancient civilizations, where we have our roots.
Everyday, here and there, new sites are found, which help us understand how our ancestors lived
and how man has evolved since the beginning of times.

Archeology is a science which studies the material remains of communities in the past, in order to
understand the economic, political and ideological structures of those communities.

It is a degree that can be approached in two ways. In the first place, you can study a degree in
History and later, you can choose the specialization in Archeology and Prehistory. In the second
place, you can study the degree in Archeology, which has been created not long ago.
If you decide to take the first option, you can go to several Spanish universities, such as Barcelona,
Madrid, Sevilla, Santander and some others.
In the second case, the Ucm and the Uab offer you the possibility to study a degree in Archeology.
It is not necessary to say that you can choose the option UNED anytime, if you prefer study from
home.

In order to enter the university, the A levels are required and you must pass the EBAU exam as well.

Among the skills which this degree requires we can mention a good oral and written expression,
analysis ability, being an observant, critical person, and finally a high level of willingness to do
field work.

Among the academic features, you should be interested in the oldest times of history, such as
Prehistory and Ancient History. This is a logical thing because your work will be focused on these
periods.
It is also advisable to have several personal skills;for instance, it is good to be thorough, methodical,
curious and, above all, critical

As for the professional ranges in which an archeologist can make his way, we can note the
following:
– management of archeological heritage
– colaboration with the media and editors
– working in museums, caves or cultural foundations
– teaching or investigating

we have to take into account a really important fact: in 1985, the law for Spanish Historical
Heritage was passed. Since then, the professional prospects of archeologists have improved
dramatically. In our country it has become a major issue to maintain, restore and preserve historical
areas and archeological sites.

Regarding the activities that an archeologist usually carries out I can name some of them. The main
one is the search of archeological sites: there are campaigns of prospection and excavation, as well
as projects every year, where a team of skilled people work.
The discoveries in the excavations are washed, signatured and classified. After that, the
investigation in the laboratory can take a long time.
When everything is ready, the final conclusions and news are made public to the scientific
community and, in most cases, a document which gathers all the excavation process is published, so
that it can be available for any person who wants to use the information.

It is said that the new graduates in Archeology will have to do a master's degree so they can get a
job as archeologists. However, everything depends on your academic career. It is posssible to do
training in excavations or colaborate with the department at university to gain experience
This training is essential in this degree, because Archeology is mainly focused on field work.
Joining an excavation campaign in the summer is an excellent opportunity to know what you feel
when you have a prehistoric tool in your own hands or when you look at an artistic finding. At this
point you realise how important is to be meticulous . You also learn how to catalogue and make it
public.
While you are studying the degree it is fundamental to attend lectures and seminars where you can
meet the professors who are working on a particular project, so you are able to ask them about the
latest facts. This way, your knowledge will be updated.
It is highly recommendable to go to the lab on a daily basis, if possible, in order to keep up with the
evolution of investigations.

Regarding wages, I have to say that archeology is a very gratifying profesion. It is not really well
paid, you can earn about a thousand euros, but there are many more pros than cons. You will work
in the open air a great part of the time, you will be able to travel to different places and know
different cultures, and , last but not least, you will be contributing to achieve a higher standard for
the historical culture in your country.