Skills
Archaeologist Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in archaeologists, and how to build and show them.
What skills do archaeologists need?
Archaeologists need technical skills such as excavation, survey, and artifact analysis, plus people skills like patience and attention to detail. They also use tools such as Trowels and Screens.
Technical (hard) skills
- Excavation
- Survey
- Artifact analysis
- GIS
- Report writing
- Section 106 compliance
People (soft) skills
- Patience
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork
- Respect for cultures
Tools, equipment and technology
- Trowels
- Screens
- Total stations
- GPS
- GIS
- Cameras
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how archaeologists put their skills to work:
- How to excavate a unit in levels
- How to write a phase I survey report
- How to work respectfully with tribal partners
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Excavation” and “Survey.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “patience,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as RPA near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our archaeologist glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Archaeologist training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.