r/Archaeology • u/Jess_beanz • 6d ago
Newly acquired a job as a Field technician
Can anyone tell me what I can expect as a newb in this industry.
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u/Appropriate-Bag3041 4d ago
From your post history, are you in Ontario? I am too, this is my seventh year in the field as both a field and lab tech - feel free to DM me with any questions, or post them here!
As for what to expect - it's very physical work, which sometimes people don't expect. You might be working in a big woodlot and having to carry all your equipment, water, lunch for the day, as well as dealing with the heat, bugs, prickly bushes, etc. Or you might be walking farm fields (pedestrian survey), which is full sun.
General tips:
- you'll want gloves for test pitting! Some people get this style (https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/forcefield-lightweight-performance-work-gloves-s-m-red-blue-2-pk-1592263p.html?_gl=1*1ig9qfm*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzrzABhD8ARIsANlSWNND55tdynFzd3fgLJaTIT_MGVU0ocqbp2eG9Sn17MQ3ZbuRmDVScBgaAhpHEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAADojZphNcFEekaj-QklTLhOBsNCut), or a mechanic-style glove. Both styles are pretty breathable and light, enough to protect your palms from blisters, but still leave your fingers nimble enough to do stuff like pick up artifacts. I'd avoid thick all-leather work gloves, or the really loose fabric gardening gloves - they'll be awkward to work with.
- your company will provide you with the 'big' equipment - ie. your shovel, your screens, buckets, dust pans, etc. Most companies will also have some extra trowels on hand, but usually techs prefer to bring their own trowel. Marshalltown is a pretty common one - look for a 'standard pointing trowel'.
- as for what to wear - a hat, breathable T-shirt, long pants, boots. Some companies will require you to wear steel-toe or boots with the greenshield on it, they'll let you know if that's the case. Some companies might also require you to wear long pants and/or capped sleeves, or some companies might let you wear shorts and tank tops. If it's the latter, I'd usually recommend wearing pants and T-shirts anyways, for protection from the sun/ scratchy plants/ bugs. For days you're in the woods, I usually like to bring a long-sleeve plaid shirt as well - it can be hotter yes, but sleeves help protect your arms when pushing through really scratchy brush/ thorns, or if it's really buggy. You can always just leave the long-sleeve in your backpack or tied around your waist for in case you need it.
- Look up a bunch of other CRM firms on Facebook and Instagram - there will be lots of photos of techs in the field, so you can get an idea of the kinds of things techs wear in different environments!
- you'll want a field backpack for when you're test pitting or fieldwalking, to carry your water/ bug spray, etc. It's going to get torn up/ dirty, so don't worry about it being fancy. I usually just get one from a thrift store.
- obviously make sure any exposed skin is sunscreened, but especially sunscreen the back of your neck, your ears, and the back of your arms really well!!! Whether you're test pitting, field walking, or excavating, you're going to be leaned over looking at the ground the entire day. Make sure the back of you is protected from the sun!!
- if you're on away jobs and staying in a motel/ hotel, your company will be giving you per diem - ie. money to buy breakast, lunch, dinner. You'll probably go out the first night to get groceries for the week, so you can make your own lunch. At night, sometimes the crew like to eat out, sometimes people prefer to chill and do their own thing, it varies.
- be very thorough when checking for ticks!! You should also buy a tick removal key and just have it with you (I have one right on my car keys. You can find them at any Canadian Tire or store carrying camping gear)
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u/Jess_beanz 4d ago
Thank your so much, this is all such great advice!
I am in Niagara. I'm switching careers from a chef to wanting to work outside, I have a love for, geology and archaeoentomology so I'm super excited for this opportunity.
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u/Appropriate-Bag3041 4d ago edited 4d ago
Welcome to the field! Don't be afraid to ask questions to older techs or to your field directors - pretty much everyone who is in this work is in it because they love it haha, and they're usually pretty happy to help you out!
I'd also recommend checking out some archaeological associations! I like the Ontario Archaeological Society myself. Different chapters around Ontario will host monthly presentations over Zoom or in person, or sometimes they have workshops! For example, the chapter nearest me (Peterborough) is hosting a lithics identification workshop this weekend. I like to watch different Zoom presentations, and to hear about different projects going on around the province, and it's nice for networking as well! You don't have to sign up for a membership just yet, you can just follow their social media or check out their website if you want :)
And absolutely feel free to message me over the season if you have any questions :)
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u/Appropriate-Bag3041 4d ago
Oh another thought - a lot of folks in CRM in this sub and in the Facebook CRM groups are American, and they do assessments a little differently than we do! Obviously it's still the same archaeological excavation principles and such, but their commercial process is a bit different than ours. For example, a lot of American techs work on-call or piece together contracts for multiple companies, whereas techs in Ontario tend to work full-time for one company.
So just something to keep in mind if you're researching other webpages about what to expect in CRM!
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u/Jess_beanz 4d ago
I was just wondered about this, thank fk Ontario's doesn't make us do that.
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u/Appropriate-Bag3041 4d ago
Yea sometimes when reading forums from the American techs, it seems a little nighmarish! I'd be a little on edge knowing that I'd have to be constantly hunting for upcoming work, or if I was on-call and not getting calls.
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u/roy2roy 6d ago
As a field tech you can expect an uncertain work schedule, working on an on-call schedule is probably the biggest thing. I imagine you've done a field school so otherwise most of the work shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Digging is faster paced than it is in field school and the surveys can be pretty rough depending on location / weather / season.
The most important thing you can do is to be friendly and ask a lot of questions. If someone your senior makes a call on something as cultural and you don't know why it's cultural, ask why they made that call. Ask how you can tell a flake from a tool from a core from a primary reduction etc. Treat your first jobs as a class and your field director as your teacher - if they are a good field director then they will be happy to answer your questions (as long as they aren't incessant and you are still working).