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A masters might help to achieve a specialist position, but not necessarily a requirement.
There are many great field archaeologists without a degree - many from the input of Community Programme etc schemes from the 1980s. It is difficult nowadays, but still not essential (at my unit anyway).
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Recently I have seen adverts for archaeology jobs saying that you have to qualified beyond an undergraduate degree.
I also have friends with PHD's who can't get jobs because they are 'over qualified'
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There is the point that if you have a PhD you are regarded as a "bit of an academic" rather than being practical.
I would note that many of the great archaeologists of the seveneties- 80s - 90s were not archaeology graduates eg Barker.
Peter
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All largely depends on where you choose to occupy a space in archaeology. Those choices can change over time so it`s worth looking at where you aim to be once the extra degree is in hand. I`m in the process of looking into an MPhil that I can read for whilst continuing to work. I have`nt really targetted any future employment, I just want to develop.I think I am trying to say that Developer-led archaeology (some may say, our bread and butter) is not all there is. I know economic arguments win the day but,research for research sake is a good thing!
Drawn many cobbles today......need sleep...
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I found doing the Survey Masters at Durham a good way to get back into archaeology after years away from digging. It gave me the skills and the time to catch up on new methods and ideas in archaaeology. Employment afterwards took me to Italy Eastern Europe and the Near East. But it does pay to ask around and get good advice on if to do it,what subject and where.
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I'm doing a history based masters in historical landscapes. very interesting i must say, but i can't see where i will use it.
deep
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Me and digger are doin the MSc at Oxford Department for Continuing Education - thats a pretty practical course (full or part time) based around placements either externally or within your place of work. Gives you real professional experience in a range of organisations (units, EH, local authorities etc), lots of contacts and tons to put on that ever-important CV. Hopefully will get qualification and a better job at the end of it all!
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Thanks star, you really just dropped me in it!!!
. I thought I was doing it just to figure out what da eck is going on in Brit arch? Agree that it has been majorly important in networking and making contacts (as well as the course work!).
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Networking! you mean ************** ********** don't you?
c'mon people we dont network! Do we?
deep
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'Fraid so deep - its not what you know but who.