How to get into Forensic Archaeology

If you are interested in and thinking about pursuing a career in forensic archaeology these tips should guide you in the right direction.

The first thing you should do is to find out as much information as possible about this field from different sources. This may include search engines, official organisations, university sites, books and journals and talking to people.

To get into forensic archaeology you would need to start with studying sciences at school. You would then normally be required to have a science related undergraduate degree (biosciences, forensics or archaeology) and either a masters or phd that can be in forensic archaeology.

There are a number of British universities that offer courses in forensics and some that offer more specialist courses in forensic archaeology (see our education page), that include both theory and practice.

Archaeological excavation experience, while not a prerequisite to getting accepted to forensic archaeology courses, is a fundamental part of the discipline and experience will need to be gained one way or another.

Gaining practical experience in archaeology may include volunteering on excavations while another way is to take part in paid archaeological courses. These courses are run at various times of the year around the country by different archaeological companies and organisations and can last from a few days to a few weeks.

Networking has become a favourite word nowdays and like any job sector even forensic archaeology can benefit from this. While gaining experience, studying and searching for the right job, sharing ideas and speaking to people can help set you on the right track. Both websites and word of mouth can be a powerful way of landing the right job in forensic archaeology.

For more interesting topics related to archaeology, visit archaeology excavations.