Archeology as a career option is very challenging and a fast evolving career in our country. With latest scientific developments in this field and many new instruments, this branch of study is gaining wide popularity as more accurate data interpretation is possible with techniques such as DNA analysis and carbon dating.

To study archeology, one should have a keen eye for detail, be very patient, be curious about the past and about the cultures and heritages followed then, have a creative bend of mind, think logically and provide reasons and learn to appreciate art as is. Archeology is actually a multidisciplinary science which helps us to get an overall picture about our past and one requires help from various sciences namely history, geography, anthropology, geology, literature, chemistry and art. Archeology helps identify how our past was and provides evidence for the same and is considered important for issues related to urban societies, environmental conservation, town planning etc. Apart from this archeology also tells us how cultures evolved and flourished, why and when changes occurred, how we started farming, trading, building infrastructure etc.

Archeology can be pursued on completion of bachelor’s degree in history. There are few bachelor programs available in archeology itself but its advisable to understand history first and take up archeology at a post graduate level. There are various doctoral programs available in the many sub-divisions/specialization of archeology. Some of them are, ethno archeology, historical archeology, experimental archeology, isotope analysis, computational archeology, bio-archeology and geo-archeology. At the post graduate level, after studying about archeology, one can specialize in any of the many specializations of archeology mentioned above.

To become a successful archeologist, a candidate has to take up many tests, submit thesis and do continual research work. Field work would also be assigned which helps the aspiring archeologist to gain hands on experience by excavating, analyzing the samples, intern with a experienced archeologist, apply and learn new techniques and also use tools and plot and photograph.

Archeologist can find many job opportunities in India. They can work as epigraphists(study of ancient inscriptions on walls, temples etc) and numismatists(study of coins). Young archeologists get immediately absorbed into the various departments of the Archeological Survey of India(ASI). They get absorbed in various government positions through the UPSC and SSC examinations and get employed by the museums, defense services, cultural centers, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of External Affairs etc. They can occupy various position in the tourism industry too and can run tourist set-ups. They can take up exclusive teaching and research jobs. Archeologists also have many job opportunities abroad.

In India, some very famous institutions offering archeology are Institute of Archeology(New Delhi), BHU(Varnasi), University of Madras(Chennai), Osmania University(Hyderabad), Gujarat University(Ahmedabad) etc.