Planning an Archaeological Vacation

What's your ideal vacation? Some people love to go on cruises, and not worry about anything. Others like amusement parks, resorts, golfing, or camping. But a few are like me, and you: they love to learn things on their vacations.


For this sort of vacationer, an archaeological vacation is perfect. Not only are you learning things at the dig, but you're contributing to the future knowledge of humanity. It's hard work, and often very hot work, but for those who truly love history, it can be incredibly exciting.

Almost every archaeologist uses a significant amount of volunteer labor, either students or people who love archaeology. You can often contact one locally, or call around to travel agents to see if you can find one who specializes in this sort of vacation; they do exist. You may not have a lot of choice in the beginning about where you volunteer, but as you make more contacts you'll find more opportunities opening up to you. The world of archaeology is a small one, and a passionate volunteer will make friends quickly.

Finding Archaeological Sites

The best place to begin is in your own backyard. Whether you're retired or still working, begin by contacting local universities and asking them about their anthropology and archaeology programs. If you have the time to go to a class, go. If not, start talking to the local archaeology professors. There are frequently lectures and other events in local libraries, bookstores, and other places. And any good archaeology professor will eventually go on a dig.

The second thing to do is start learning about your local history. The more you know about who used to live in your area and what they built and did, the more likely you are to be of use on an archaeological dig to begin with.

Be ready to do hard, hot, dirty work. Your earliest work is likely to be shoveling dirt into pails and toting them to a sifter, where the finest remains like seeds and broken bones are sorted from the soil. Learn everything you can while you're on the dig site, and ask lots of questions. Graduate students are often excellent sources of information, and eager to share it with anyone who is interested.