Anthropologist to archaeologist
An anthropologist already meets 74% of what the archaeologist role asks for. The move turns on 5 required skills not yet in the profile.
40.8/ 100
1 How much of what an archaeologist is expected to do is already part of an anthropologist’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the archaeologist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An archaeologist role treats 35 of its required skills as things an anthropologist already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- apply for research funding
- apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities
- archaeology
- communicate with a non-scientific audience
- conduct research across disciplines
- cultural geography
What stands in the way is 5 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 49 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An archaeologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an anthropologist background worth leading with.
- already held identify archaeological finds information skills
- already held work on excavation site handling and moving
- already held interpret pedigree charts information skills
- already held cultural geography natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held paleography arts and humanities
- already held Sanskrit classical languages
All 49 carried skills, including the 35 the archaeologist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 30 missing skills fall into 11 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn do historical research required
- still to learn execute analytical mathematical calculations required
- optional, not held record archaeological finds optional
- optional, not held assess conservation needs optional
- optional, not held assist with geophysical surveys optional
- optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
- optional, not held study ancient inscriptions optional
- optional, not held collect data using GPS optional
- optional, not held conduct field work optional
- optional, not held oversee excavation optional
- optional, not held perform underwater investigations optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
- still to learn excavation techniques required
- optional, not held architectural conservation optional
- optional, not held surveying optional
- still to learn scientific modelling required
- still to learn source criticism required
- optional, not held archaeobotany optional
- optional, not held geographic information systems optional
- optional, not held geological time scale optional
- optional, not held geology optional
- optional, not held art history optional
- optional, not held conservation techniques optional
- optional, not held epigraphy optional
5 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an archaeologist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 do historical research practise this
- 02 excavation techniques study this
- 03 execute analytical mathematical calculations practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 49 skills that carry over
- already held apply for research funding skill
- already held apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities skill
- already held archaeology knowledge
- already held communicate with a non-scientific audience skill
- already held conduct research across disciplines skill
- already held cultural geography knowledge
- already held cultural history knowledge
- already held demonstrate disciplinary expertise skill
- already held develop professional network with researchers and scientists skill
- already held disseminate results to the scientific community skill
- already held draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation skill
- already held evaluate research activities skill
- already held history knowledge
- already held increase the impact of science on policy and society skill
- already held integrate gender dimension in research skill
- already held interact professionally in research and professional environments skill
- already held manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data skill
- already held manage intellectual property rights skill
- already held manage open publications skill
- already held manage personal professional development skill
- already held manage research data skill
- already held mentor individuals skill
- already held operate open source software skill
- already held perform project management skill
- already held perform scientific research skill
- already held promote open innovation in research skill
- already held promote the participation of citizens in scientific and research activities skill
- already held promote the transfer of knowledge skill
- already held publish academic research skill
- already held research design knowledge
- already held scientific research methodology knowledge
- already held speak different languages skill
- already held synthesise information skill
- already held think abstractly skill
- already held write scientific publications skill
- already held Ancient Greek knowledge
- already held Latin knowledge
- already held Sanskrit knowledge
- already held anthropology knowledge
- already held apply blended learning skill
- already held develop scientific theories skill
- already held geography knowledge
- already held identify archaeological finds skill
- already held interpret pedigree charts skill
- already held osteology knowledge
- already held paleography knowledge
- already held teach in academic or vocational contexts skill
- already held work on excavation site skill
- already held write research proposals skill
The 5 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held create collection conservation plan optional
- optional, not held supervise projects for the conservation of heritage buildings optional
- optional, not held organise an exhibition optional
- optional, not held collect samples for analysis optional
- optional, not held use geographic information systems optional
- optional, not held perform laboratory tests optional
25 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held archaeobotany optional
- optional, not held record archaeological finds optional
- optional, not held architectural conservation optional
- optional, not held art history optional
- optional, not held assess conservation needs optional
- optional, not held assist with geophysical surveys optional
- optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
- optional, not held conservation techniques optional
- optional, not held create collection conservation plan optional
- optional, not held epigraphy optional
- optional, not held geographic information systems optional
- optional, not held organise an exhibition optional
- optional, not held study ancient inscriptions optional
- optional, not held supervise projects for the conservation of heritage buildings optional
- optional, not held use geographic information systems optional
- optional, not held collect data using GPS optional
- optional, not held collect samples for analysis optional
- optional, not held conduct field work optional
- optional, not held geological time scale optional
- optional, not held geology optional
- optional, not held oversee excavation optional
- optional, not held perform laboratory tests optional
- optional, not held perform underwater investigations optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
- optional, not held surveying optional
24 held skills the archaeologist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role African studies knowledge
- not needed by the target role advise legislators skill
- not needed by the target role apply scientific methods skill
- not needed by the target role biology knowledge
- not needed by the target role conduct participatory research skill
- not needed by the target role consult information sources skill
- not needed by the target role economic anthropology knowledge
- not needed by the target role forensic anthropology knowledge
- not needed by the target role interview focus groups skill
- not needed by the target role interview people skill
- not needed by the target role interview techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role linguistics knowledge
- not needed by the target role multidisciplinary research knowledge
- not needed by the target role observe human behaviour skill
- not needed by the target role participant observation knowledge
- not needed by the target role philosophy knowledge
- not needed by the target role politics knowledge
- not needed by the target role religious studies knowledge
- not needed by the target role research human behaviour skill
- not needed by the target role search historical sources in archives skill
- not needed by the target role sociology knowledge
- not needed by the target role study cultures skill
- not needed by the target role study human societies skill
- not needed by the target role teach anthropology skill
12 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn excavation techniques required
- still to learn scientific modelling required
- still to learn source criticism required
- optional, not held archaeobotany optional
- optional, not held architectural conservation optional
- optional, not held art history optional
- optional, not held conservation techniques optional
- optional, not held epigraphy optional
- optional, not held geographic information systems optional
- optional, not held geological time scale optional
- optional, not held geology optional
- optional, not held surveying optional
Common questions about this move
Can an anthropologist become an archaeologist?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. An anthropologist already covers 74% of what an archaeologist is expected to do: 49 skills carry over, 35 of which the archaeologist role treats as required.
What skills does an anthropologist need to become an archaeologist?
5 required skills are missing, plus 25 optional ones. They fall into 11 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is do historical research.
How hard is the move from anthropologist to archaeologist?
Its learning distance is 40.8 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.