We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Contract Archaeologist?

By Theresa Miles
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,328
Share

A contract archaeologist is a consultant who is hired to provide expert advice on the impact of public and private development on cultural resources or to help minimize what has already occurred. These sorts of consultants are contracted to make an impact assessment before governments approve development projects and are often retained to monitor and manage the project's impact on the archaeological site. This type of applied archaeology is also known as cultural resources management (CRM), public archaeology and rescue archaeology.

The traditional job listing for an archaeologist describes someone who finds and studies material remains of past civilizations. Most people would assume an archaeologist spends his time out digging in remote areas, finding buried treasures and writing academic papers on his finding. Alternatively, many would expect archaeologists to spend their time studying artifacts discovered by others in the field and teaching.

In addition to the traditional job specifications, there is a burgeoning area of archaeological consulting that employs experts in the field to protect cultural resources from the negative impact of surrounding development and help manage or restore resources that are threatened or damaged. Many countries rely on their culturally significant historical sites to drive tourism. Allowing corporations and public agencies to proceed with development projects in the vicinity of these resources without first determining the project's likely impact can cause irreparable harm.

Governments often require a professional impact assessment before they will approve development projects near cultural resources, much in the same way as they typically require an environmental impact study before approving a project that will effect natural resources. A contract archaeologist is an expert who is retained to evaluate the potential impact of development before a project is approved, provide ongoing support while the project is underway and, sometimes, determine the extent of the damage to cultural resources if things go wrong. Consultants can also be called in to assess the damage done to cultural resources by factors other than development, such as climate change or a natural disaster, and to design a plan for preservation and recovery.

A contract archaeologist can operate in either a for-profit or nonprofit capacity. Many colleges and museums offer contract archaeologist services that generate revenue for the institution. Individual consultants operate on their own or as part of a firm for profit. Certain large corporations have CRM divisions that manage cultural resources under contract and employ archaeologists to do the work.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-contract-archaeologist.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.