Mention of archeology began in ancient Greece. For example, Plato understood this concept as the study of antiquity, and in the Renaissance, he meant the study of the history of Greece and Ancient Rome. In foreign science, this term is associated with anthropology. In Russia, archeology is a science that studies fossil materials that are associated with human activity in ancient times. She studies excavations and currently collaborates with many scientific branches and has several sections dealing with different eras and cultural areas.
The profession of an archaeologist is a multifaceted and interesting job
People study the culture and life of ancient civilizations, restoring the distant past from the remains, which are carefully dug up in the layers of the earth. This work requires great care and diligence. For over time, the remains of the past become more fragile and dilapidated.
An archaeologist is a person who excavates in search of sources for new research. Often this profession is compared with detective work. The work of archaeologists is creative,requiring attention, imagination and abstract thinking - to recreate the original picture of the ancient world in the past.
The profession became popular in Greece and Ancient Rome. Since that time, the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages have been known, many excavations have been carried out and even more ancient architectural monuments have been found. During the Renaissance, the main goal of archaeologists was to find ancient sculptures. As a separate science, it was formed at the beginning of the 20th century.
What qualities should an archaeologist have
Knowledge of the many facts accumulated by scientists in the chosen field is necessary for their activities. This may be the Neolithic or Paleolithic, Bronze, Early Iron Age, Scythian times, antiquity, Slavic-Russian archeology, etc. The list is not complete and can be continued. An archaeologist is an interesting profession, but it requires the erudition of scientists and the ability to compare various sources.
Such a person should have his own opinion and be able to defend it, argue based on logic, not emotions. It can be difficult, but it is necessary to abandon your hypotheses if there are facts that refute them. The work of archaeologists requires the presence of important qualities - this is patience, diligence, accuracy. They are essential for excavations.
You need good endurance and physical fitness, as the work of archaeologists is most often associated with excavations that take place in various climatic conditions. Plus, there is no allergy to organic materials. An archaeologist is a personwho should be balanced, calm, be able to work in a team.
Knowledge required
Professionals must be able to draw, draw, photograph. To master the basics of not only restoration, but also the conservation of metal, stone, clay and organic materials (leather, bone, wood, fabric, etc.). Be sure to need a broad knowledge of anthropology, linguistics, ethnography, geodesy, topography, geology and paleozoology. Those archaeologists who study historical antiquities should have a good knowledge of history and auxiliary disciplines (textology, numismatics, paleography, sphragistics, heraldry and much more).
Field archaeologists should be economists, good organizers, teachers and psychologists. But most importantly, they must be able to "see the earth", read its layers and layers and correctly compare the found antiquities.
Occupational diseases
People-archaeologists have their own diseases, which they acquire on expeditions. Most often it is gastritis or gastric ulcer, which directly depends on the quality of nutrition, since often there are no normal conditions for cooking. Rheumatism and sciatica are also common, as very often archaeologists have to live in tents under various weather conditions. Because of this, various arthrosis and arthritis occur.
What is the job of an archaeologist?
What do archaeologists do? Not only by global excavations, but also by individual mosaic fragments, which must be correctly selected and carefullyput together into one. It often happens that it takes many years to unravel the secrets of the past. But the end result is worth it. Since it is in this way that you can recreate the past, which, it would seem, is forever hidden in the bowels of the planet.
What do archaeologists do? They study the sources, analyze them and subsequently supplement them with various already known facts. Research includes not only excavations, but also an office part, when work takes place directly with artifacts and documents. Scientists can work not only on land, but also under water.
The most famous archaeologists
Heinrich Schliemann is a German scientist who discovered Troy. This is one of the first pioneer archaeologists who began to study antiquity. He was born on January 6, 1822. According to the horoscope - Capricorn. Conducted excavations in Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Greece and Turkey. For almost half of his life, Henry tried to show the historical importance of the Homeric epic. He tried to prove that all the events described in the poems are not fantasy, but reality.
Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl was born on October 6, 1914. He wrote many books. His expeditions were always bright, filled with heroic events. Many of his works caused controversy among scientists, but it was thanks to Tour that interest in the ancient history of the peoples of the world increased much.
There are famous archaeologists in Russia too. Among them is Boris Piotrovsky, he was born in 1908. The sign of the zodiac is Aquarius. This is a well-known Russian historian, orientalist and academician. Heexplored many monuments of the North Caucasus, Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Already in 1949, he was appointed deputy director of the Hermitage for science.
Outstanding discoveries
Archaeologists identify the 10 most significant finds in the world that were found during excavations:
- Rosetta stone discovered near the village of Rashid. It is a granodiorite (rock) with the inscription of Ptolemy V (Egyptian king). The inscription is in Egyptian hieroglyphs, in Greek and in demotic script.
- Venus de Milo is a famous statue of ancient Greece. Late Hellenistic period. She was found by a Greek peasant in 1820 on the island of Milos. But the hands of the statue were never found.
- Angkor Wat (Temple City) is an outstanding monument of Buddhism in Cambodia. It is part of the temple complex. It was discovered by the French traveler Henri Muo in 1861. An entire era was subsequently named after this city.
- Troy, Ilion - the oldest city on the peninsula near the Dardanelles. Troy became very famous for the poems. The excavations revealed 46 cultural layers, subsequently divided into several periods.
- Mycenae is the oldest city in southern Greece, in Argolis. It is considered the largest center of the Aegean culture. During the excavations, many tombs were found in which there were treasures - swords, rings, gold and silver objects, masks, plates and discs with chasing.
- The Minoan civilization was discovered by Arthur Evans, an English archaeologist. The excavations have foundpalace and city buildings, necropolises. One of the most famous finds is a stone disk with inscriptions in a language unknown to scientists.
- Machu Picchu - Inca fortress, sanctuary city. It was discovered by the American scientist Hiram Bingham. These picturesque ruins are one of the finest examples of post-Inca stone building. The monument has preserved 200 different premises and buildings, temples, residential buildings, defensive structures.
- The tomb of Tutankhamun near Luxor was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Cater. There were huge treasures in the tomb itself, and the mummy was buried in three sarcophagi, which were nested one inside the other.
- Birch bark - scrawled and embossed on birch bark. The first time they were found in Novgorod. And already in 2012 there were over a thousand of them.
- Princess Ukok is an ancient mummy found in a Scythian mound in Altai, on the border with Mongolia. Its age is over 2,5 thousand years.
Unexplained Finds
What do archaeologists find out of the unusual? There are a number of excavated exhibits that are simply impossible to explain logically. The figures of Acambaro alarmed the scientific community. The first was found in Mexico by the German Voldemar Dzhalsrad. The figurines seemed to be of ancient origin, but caused a lot of skepticism among scientists.
Drop's stones are the echoes of an ancient civilization. These are hundreds of stone discs found on the floor of the cave, on which stories about spaceships were engraved. They were controlled by creatures whose remains were also found in the cave.
Terrible finds
In archeology, there are also quite creepy finds. For example, screaming mummies. One of these was tied hand and foot, but a cry froze on her face. There were suggestions that she was buried alive, tortured, poisoned. But studies have shown that the jaw was simply tied up badly or not at all, which is why the mummy's mouth was open.
Archaeologists have also found huge claws of an unknown monster. And the huge skull and beak found only convinced scientists that it would not be pleasant if such a monster met someone on its way. But later it turned out that these were the ancient ancestors of the Moa bird. And their growth exceeded the human by 2-3 times. It is said that there is a possibility that this bird has survived to this day, and you can try to find it in areas of New Zealand. The natives of this country have a lot of legends about Moa.
Tools of archaeologists
On excavations, this kind of tool is mainly used: bayonet, shovel and sapper shovels, picks and choppers of various sizes, garden scoops, brooms, sledgehammers, hammers and brushes of various sizes. The work of an archaeologist can be quite difficult, especially when you have to dig up large burial mounds.
The important point is the correct work on the object. And the ability to choose the right tool is also needed. The head of the excavation not only monitors the he alth of archaeologists, but also helps to properly use the right brushes and shovels.
How to become an archaeologist
You can learn how todaytime department, as well as part-time. Archaeologist is a profession that can be acquired by anyone who has a craving for antiquity and excavation. To do this, you need to enroll in a university that trains historians. It is graduates in this discipline who can then engage in excavations and other areas. An archaeologist is a historian. However, unlike the latter, he is engaged not only in the study of theory, but also personally seeks and explores antiquity.
Archaeologist salary
Russian salary averages about 15 thousand rubles. But for only one expedition, an archaeologist can receive up to 30 thousand rubles. Salaries may vary from city to city. For example, in Moscow it ranges from 20 to 30 thousand rubles. In the regions, it is approximately 5-7 thousand lower.
