The idea of traveling all over the planet looking for lost treasures is exciting, which is why it’s portrayed as a thrilling career in the entertainment industry. Yet, as a rare Roman dodecahedron is found in England and sandstone Buddha statues have been recently uncovered in Cambodia, this is a good moment to consider whether archaeology is as potentially rewarding a business idea as it seems to be.
It’s Not What We See in the Movies and Other Types of Entertainment
The first point to note here is that the real-life study of archaeology is very different from what you might have seen represented in franchises like Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider. These movies are inspired by the adventures of historical adventurers such as Howard Carter, who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. While there were rumors that he might have taken some treasures for himself, his official role was as an employee of Lord Carnarvon, and Carter spent almost a decade painstakingly recording the fabulous treasures found in the tomb.
Hiram Bingham III was a lecturer and professor rather than a trained archaeologist, but he discovered a passion for exploring South America and is credited with re-discovering Macchu Pichu in Peru. His adventures are said to have partially inspired the Indiana Jones movies, but the role of archaeologist is far different from what we see in these much-loved films. The painstaking work we see carried out on the 2021 Netflix movie The Dig is closer to reality. In fact, this story is based on real-life events and the main character Basil Brown spent over three decades working as a museum employee on excavations.
The idea of hunting for lost treasures is also present in many online slots in the iGaming sector. On the Vegasslotsonline site, players can find the Book of Dead series. Released by Play’n GO, this series of games is based on the fictional adventurer Rich Wilde, who visits an Egyptian tomb to look for this famous Egyptian funerary text. The same character features in other globe- trotting adventures such as The Tome of Madness and the Wandering City.
Salaries Are Relatively Modest
We can see by now that archaeologists are typically paid employees rather than independent adventurers. This means that they rely on salaries rather than selling or trading the valuable objects they find. Their discoveries are almost always claimed by the government or the loan- owner where the excavation takes place.
A look online at Zippia reveals a series of pros and cons to this role. One of the most important negative points they mention is that salaries are relatively low when compared to other jobs where a similar level of experience and education is required. It’s also a physically demanding job that doesn’t suit everyone due to the time spent sifting meticulously through the dirt at sites.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, archaeology should have employment growth of 4.2% in the next decades, which means an estimated 300 new jobs in that period. As analysed on Insights Success, artificial intelligence is one of the emerging technologies that may help people carry out their roles in this field, by analyzing data and recreating images from the past. Yet, it’s not clear if it will have an adverse effect on the jobs market.
The Price of Rare Objects
The recent discovery of one of the biggest Roman dodecahedrons to date in the UK has sparked interest again in these mysterious objects that are among the greatest enigmas in archaeology. No one knows what the 12-sided dodecahedrons were used for and only 33 have been found in Britain.
Yet, a report from the Antiques Trade Gazette in early 2023 confirmed that Wilkinson’s auction house sold a large dodecahedron for just £33,000 (around $41,000). While this was far higher than the estimated price, it shows how difficult it would be to make a lucrative business out of finding historical objects even if you were allowed to keep them or sell them.
Archaeologists generally enjoy non-financial benefits such as being able to travel and help preserve items from the past for future generations. However, in terms of financial rewards, it’s not going to give you the chance to earn a fortune. For many people, watching fictionalized archaeologists carry out their jobs and discover long-lost objects is the best way to approach this role.
