Archaeology is the study of history and the period before written history, known as prehistory, using artifacts and other physical objects.
Curiosity and the ability to cooperate well with others has served me very well. My curiosity drives me to ask research questions and to seek information. It’s also important to be able to get along and work well with my colleagues.
The most important research questions for an archeologist are: How was an artifact or archaeological site used? To what culture does a historic or prehistoric artifact or site belong to?
A very important part of archaeological research is understanding the relationship between archaeological sites and their geographic locations. Therefore, an important piece of equipment for an archaeologist is a Geographic Positioning System (GPS) unit. GPS units are used to map the location of archeological sites when they are discovered.
Every discovery is exciting, from the smallest shard of pottery or rusty tin can to a large pueblo or a historic timber logging site that no one has visited in several hundred years. It all has the potential to teach us something about the ways of life of the people who once called the southwest United States home.
When I was a child, I was very interested in dinosaurs and natural history. However, it was an archaeology class at a local community college that set me on my current career path.
