My life as an archaeologist began while I was in third year doing my Honours BA in History at the University of Guelph. I applied to be a junior archaeological field technician at a major engineering firm. The advert said archaeology degrees or related fields of study would be considered as qualifications; my history degree, in this case, was a related field of study.
I was offered an interview, and was asked: “How does a history degree prepare you for work in archaeology?” Quite simply, I replied: a history degree grants me the ability to think critically in ways most people won’t. Historians approach research questions from numerous vantages to find a logical and pragmatic solution, while attempting to understand the bigger picture. A history degree allows me to understand the socio-economic background of the material culture that we unearth.
My history degree helps put the artifacts into a larger framework that is based on pre-existing historical narratives, and in some cases, it can change these historical narratives.
After a few years in the field, I was able to attain my archaeological field director’s license from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport. Now, six years later I continue to direct excavations dating from 10,000 years ago to Euro-Canadian settlements from the 1800’s.
With my BA in History, and a MA in Archaeology from the University College Dublin, I am able to develop a fuller understanding of the archaeological sites that I supervise and advance professionally in a highly rewarding career where everyday unearths new artifacts with important stories to tell.