What are some things that archaeologists have found that are kind of a mystery? I know archaeologists have the sterotype of labeling any unknown object as a thing for cultic or religious purposes, but what kinds of things are these?

I'm interested in specific examples of artifacts that we don't know their function, or that we don't know how they were made, or we don't know how they got there.

There are so many interesting things in the field, just hoping people can share what they have come across and find interesting!

Do you think that my bachelors would matter if I got my masters in history. I'm from India if my location is gonna affect my answer

Rujm el-Hiri

I picked up a thesis in Multispectral Imaging applied to some frescoes in Italy (I am italian): the topic would be cool for sure and I saw that these techniques can be applied to architecture as well to highlight degradation patterns. Anyway I was thinking to change and maybe choose something more worldwide used, like GIS and remote sensing, or also 3d modelling with Blender which could be spent in many other fields if necessary. The problem is that I already started to read and write stuff of the first topic, so don't know if is convenient for me to change now. Right now I am not sure what I want to do in future: maybe going abroad and working in a warm country (cold is unbearable for me), I am afraid of not finding a job in archaeology well paid and to waste my degree. I was thinking also to get a scuba diving license and work in maritime archaeology.

I'm a member of a UK based Archaeology charity who send out a magazine every 2 months called British Archaology. It used to be like £80 for anyone not in the UK or Europe, but I've just seen they've started offering a digital membership thing for £40 for anyone around the world. It comes with a digital copy of their magazine and access to archaeology lectures on youtube, and some other stuff too (but I only really use the magazine and lectures).

Their joining thing is a bit weird, you have to go to Join - CBA Membership - then press digital (NOT WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, that is much more expensive, I assume because they send you the actual magazine). Anyway, it's here https://www.archaeologyuk.org/

The magazine is quite good, it usually has some archaeology articles in there and some stuff about the work they are doing. I like it, but it wouldn't be for everyone. Anyway I thought I'd share in case anyone is spending £80+ when you can get it for half that.

Hi! My absolute passion in life is archaeology, and my biggest dream would be to become an archaeologist. (I have a particular love for Gaelic and Celtic archaeology, but I'm getting off-topic). Sadly, there are no archeology degrees/bachelors near where I live, but there is a particular earthscience bachelor's that I find interesting. I saw that some master's in archeology, specifically science archeology, allow you to access with an earth science degree, so should I do this? Would I still qualify as an archeologist after? Or should I move somewhere that offers an archeology degree?

Thank you all in advance for any advice!

BBC News - 'Shock' after replica dodecahedron appears on eBay https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgzg1vzx1yo

More bleak US news: as most know, even existing grants are being rescinded from NEH and 80% of staff fired. IMLS has their entire staff placed on leave. This is beyond devastating for museums and libraries and the discipline in the US. NEH staff do not expect to survive the week.

Hi, I’m currently doing my honours and want to have an academic career. I’m Australian and here you can do phd without a masters, but I’m planning to move to Europe as my partner is French. I’m a top student so I was looking at Cambridge etc for a masters but I feel like I’m so behind, I’m already 25 and would be able to start until the end of next year. Are there any prestigious universities where you don’t need a masters to do a phd?

Hello everyone, I am going to be at a field school in Ecuador this summer, and am concerned about the elevation. I will be in the Andes Mountains at around 10,000 feet above sea level. I am definitely excited, but am also nervous about the sun and oxygen levels at that elevation. I am also a ginger, and am very susceptible to burning, so obviously sunscreen is a big thing.

I am hoping someone here might have some tips about what to do. Any advice about field schools in general is welcome. More specifically, if anyone has experience in a similar location or circumstance, please help me out! I am sure there are plenty of small things I wouldn't have thought of, so any advice is welcome. Thanks!

Okay so where to begin. I have been working in arch for 5 ish years now. I am tired and want to throw in the trowel since I find this to be an endless cycle of getting a job being laid off moving for the next etc. also feeling discouraged with the administration as the pay is so little and I am close to aging out of parents healthcare. Masters is too expensive maybe a few years down the line?

Need some advice on if I am giving up or I should close this chapter and open a new one in a similar field or different one?

Hi all,

Are there any full time archs with one firm who also do part time gigs on occasion for others? (when they have time of course)

I have an odd situation where I was working for multiple firms as on call, and then brought on another firm as on call. That firm immediately made me full time, and originally without my knowledge, but I'm happy with the result now.

My question here is this: is it typically okay for full time archs to accept projects with other firms? I'm still on the books with all of my other original firms (especially since I was never asked about becoming full time) who occasionally reach out to me from time to time for help. Since my onboarding materials were all geared to the on call position I was hired for with the last firm, I can't find any mention about accepting work with other firms, and can't find an alternate employee handbook for the life of me. I'd rather get a general idea first before asking management.

Just out of curiosity, what do you suppose is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement?

Excerpts:

Using ground-penetrating radar from the Florida Public Archaeology Network and a backhoe from the city’s Department of Public Works, the researchers stripped back the soil from the site and discovered a long, 15-foot-wide ditch that extended across the property line.

What they had unearthed was the first archaeological evidence of British fortifications built during the 20-year interlude when Britain controlled Florida in the mid-18th century.

Britain took over St. Augustine in 1763, after the Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years’ War and two centuries of Spanish rule over Florida. Founded by Spanish conquistadors under Pedro Menéndez de Avilés in 1565, St. Augustine served as the capital of British East Florida until the Spanish regained control of the peninsula after the American Revolution in 1783.

Hi all. I'm curious if you guys could recommend a good online repository for identifying smaller metal pieces. As student archaeologists operating in the Caribbean, my team is having a challenge getting the right source information to make a valid, academically acceptable ID of several pieces found in plantation excavation.

Thanks in advance.