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CV Template · Archaeologist

Archaeologist CV template.

An archaeologist CV needs to prove you can work carefully in the field and interpret evidence with academic rigour. Employers will look for excavation experience, recording accuracy, specialist analysis, and the ability to turn site data into clear reports.

Writing a strong Archaeologist CV

Hiring managers want to see where you have worked, what periods or material cultures you know, and which methods you can use without close supervision. A strong archaeologist CV should name excavation techniques, survey work, stratigraphic recording, context sheets, finds processing, GIS software such as ArcGIS or QGIS, and any experience with HER records, watching briefs, or cultural resource management projects. Include deliverables such as site reports, desk-based assessments, environmental sampling records, artefact catalogues, or museum documentation. If relevant, mention CSCS, first aid, driving licences, drone survey exposure, or memberships such as CIfA.

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Three things that matter most

  • List fieldwork by site type, period, and responsibility, such as Roman villa excavation, Bronze Age landscape survey, or urban watching brief. This tells employers whether you can step into their project workflow immediately.
  • Show your recording and post-excavation skills, including context sheets, section drawings, photogrammetry, finds washing, flotation samples, or database entry. Archaeology employers value accuracy as much as time spent on site.
  • Separate commercial archaeology experience from academic research where possible. CRM employers will want to see awareness of deadlines, planning conditions, risk assessments, and report production for clients or local authorities.

Skills hiring managers look for

Stratigraphic excavation Context recording ArcGIS or QGIS Total station survey Finds processing and cataloguing Desk-based assessments Watching briefs CIfA standards and guidance

Frequently asked

How do I write an archaeologist CV with no paid fieldwork experience?

Use university field schools, volunteer digs, lab placements, and museum cataloguing as your main experience section. Describe the site type, tools used, records completed, and any artefact or environmental processing you handled. If you completed a dissertation with primary data, include the methods and archive or dataset you worked with.

Should an archaeologist CV include a publications section?

Include publications if you are applying for research, museum, heritage, or university roles, especially peer-reviewed articles, excavation reports, conference papers, or catalogue entries. For commercial archaeology jobs, keep publications brief and prioritise field projects, report writing, survey skills, and availability for site work.

What software should I mention on an archaeology CV?

Mention GIS and recording tools you can actually use, such as ArcGIS, QGIS, AutoCAD, Agisoft Metashape, ESRI Field Maps, or Access databases. If the role involves reporting or heritage consultancy, also include experience with HER searches, mapping outputs, illustration workflows, and photo management for site archives.

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