Archaeology Jobs 2010-2011

Welcome to the Archaeology Job Wiki for 2010-2011.

Please add any information as you find it, simply edit the page and add your info under the job in question. You don't need an account to edit, just press the "Edit" button at the top of the page. (Note, though, that creating an account masks your IP address). This works best when more people use the wiki, so pass along the link to other people who would be interested.

Also, if you could change the updated date when you make changes, it will make life easier for everybody.

Use "Heading 3" when adding names of schools to this page

Current Users
(let us know if you're watching the wiki by updating the numbers below)

On the Job Market: 46

Just Lurking: 1

Date Last Modified: November 7, 2010

University of Alabama
Position: entry-level tenure-track position in archaeology

Ad: http://saa.org/Careers/JobAnnouncements/tabid/256/Default.aspx#UniversityofAlabama

Preferences: research interests in Latin America, broadly conceived to include the Caribbean

Due date: October 25
 * This job was posted last year. What happened?

I believe that the person they hired was there for a year then got an offer elsewhere

mid Oct. - Placed on "medium list" and request for letters (x2)

University of Arizona
Postion: tenure-track joint assistant professor position in archaeology and tree-ring studies.

Ad: http://careercenter.aaanet.org/jobs#/detail/3670514

Preferences: In addition to dendrochronology, research interests in past human-environment interactions or human adaptations to environmental conditions and shifts are highly desirable.

Due: December 15

American University in Cairo
Position: The Egyptology Program is seeking applications for a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor or Associate Professor in Egyptology with a starting date in September 2011.

Preferences: Candidates should have a research interest in Egyptian history and have competence in all stages of the ancient Egyptian language. A completed Ph.D. and teaching experience are required.

Due: Priority will be given to applications received by October 15th, 2010. Short-listed candidates will be interviewed by video-conference in early November 2010.

Baylor University
Position: Assistant or Associate Profess of Anthropological Archaeology starting August 2011

Preferences: Topical and geographic area open but would prefer technical expertise in lithic technology, ceramics, or archaeobotany. Note: ad does not state tenure track or otherwise

Due: Review of applications begins September 15th, and all application materials must be submitted by October 15th.

10/29- received letter dated 10/26 stating that my application was incomplete-- they actually do require undergrad transcripts sent directly from the issuing university and wanted letters up front (the wording was a bit odd, so I couldn't tell)... but I guess this means they've actually started reviewing applications (x3) 10/29- also received letter, but only requesting rec letters (already sent transcripts). The wording in the posting reads "include names and contact information for at least three individuals from whom you have requested letters of recommendation". Perhaps I'm too optimistic in thinking they are only asking for letters from a shorter list of applicants. If they are requesting letters from all applicants, they could have saved themselves much work by clearly asking for them up front.


 * I read that statement as a request for contact info for the people they ought to be expecting letters from on my behalf, so I asked for rec letters up front. But, if they weren't considering you at all they probably wouldn't have bothered to ask for your letters? The wording was a little unclear, but better than some of the other ads this year!

Brigham Young University
Position: Full-time continuing faculty status track position in socio-cultural anthropology or archaeology

Ad: http://saa.org/Careers/JobAnnouncements/tabid/256/Default.aspx#BYU

Preferences: All ranks and geographical/theoretical areas of specialization will be considered. Qualifications include a completed or nearly completed PhD, a well defined research agenda, professional publications, and a strong interest in undergraduate education. Preference is given to qualified candidates who are members in good standing of the affiliated church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Due date: November 1

University of California at Berkeley
Position: Environmental Archaeologist, Assistant Professor, Tenure Track

Preferences: "research and teaching that explores the relationships between humans and their environments, and may include topics ranging from social landscape studies to the analysis of organic or inorganic environmental traces left behind by human habitation and activity"

---From a grad student in the dept.: We have 3 retirees coming up in the next year. Not sure if the dept. is trying to replace the area/s of expertise of one of them, or if they're fishing for something different. The retiring folks have regional specializations in the US SW (& lithics & XRF analysis), paleolithic Europe (gender & feminist & landscape approaches), and the Near East/Anatolia area (household approaches & media studies). The dept. is already short in terms of having a faunal remains specialist, a chemical signatures specialist (sediments & artifacts), and a GIS specialist. The dept. tends to like to broaden itself regionally and specialization-wise, so my *advice* (take it with a big grain of salt-- I'm not on this hiring committee!) would be to *not* sell yourself as someone with a micromorphology, ceramics, paleoethnobotany, or historic artifacts specialization, nor as someone working in Western South America, Japan, California, US SE, Central America, or anywhere in the Pacific.

--They ran a similar (failed) search a few years ago, so my guess would be that they are not looking to replace outgoing folks directly. In the previous search, most of (all?) the finalists did some sort of faunal analysis. The job descriptions seems to be a bit broader this time around though...

--Last time it was an explicitly faunal job, and all of the finalists were faunal analysts. They've made the job much broader (all environmental fields), maybe because they discovered that very few faunal analysts have the kind of theoretical focus that they want (that's just speculation).

--What happend with the last serch was that the person they offered the job to used it as leverage at their current university to get a better deal there and a spousal hire. Then, due to UC budget problem, the dept lost the funding for the position.


 * I heard that too. As one of the "jobless" it's hard for me to watch the "jobbed" receive and turn down offers I'd have loved, but I'm trying to remind myself there are enough people out there with spousal-hire issues that these things don't necessarily mean people are just being calculating; some of them have to make painful decisions. (I don't know any details in this particular case, just sayin'.)

- If anyone is wondering, "evidence of teaching effectiveness" in this ad means teaching evaluations, at least according to the dept HR person (I was so confused I ended up emailing to ask).

Due date: Review will begin November 9, 2010. Deadline for submitting applications is January 1, 2011.

California State University, Northridge
Position: Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Tenure Track Position

Preferences (from ad): background in geography or landscape approaches; ability to teach in Geography dept also

http://www.csun.edu/csbs/departments/anthropology/pdf/faculty-position-opening.pdf


 * Affirmative action form received (by mail) 10/21

Colgate University
Position: Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Tenure Track Position

Preferences (from ad): transnationalism, ethnography, indigenous archaeology
 * received confirmation/diversity form 10/7

Dartmouth College
Position: Assistant Professor of Anthropology, tenure-track

Preferences: development of complex societies, preferably in North or South America; must have an active program of research and scholarly publications

Due: Oct 15, 2010

Received e-mail request to send PDFs of publications and REC 10/28/2010 (x2)

Georgia State
Position: Assistant Professor of Anthropology, tenure track

Preferences: Desirable areas of focus include public archaeology and museum studies, with research expertise in any of the following: material culture, politics of identity and representation, cultural property rights, cultural resource management, heritage tourism and development, and collaborations with descendent communities in archaeological research.

Due: Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2010 and will continue until the position is filled.


 * Applied, but got no confirmation/affirmative action card. Did other people get any confirmation?
 * Same here--sent app a few weeks ago, but no confirmation or affirmative action mailing yet. (x2)

Indiana University
Preferences: China/East Asia; Preference will be given to candidates whose work focuses on the Neolithic or early Bronze Age; a demonstrated interest in migration, complexity, ancient political economies or the origin of cities will be of particular interest, though specific research specialization is open.

Due: November 1, 2010

Kennesaw State University
Position: Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Tenure Track Position

Preferences: Prehistory of Asia, Africa, or Europe

Due: Oct. 31, 2010


 * pending budget approval!
 * 10/12 received confirmation/affirmative action card

McMaster University
Position: Assistant Professor, Archaeology, Tenure Track Position.

http://oraweb.aucc.ca/pls/ua/ua_re3?ADVERTISEMENT_NUMBER_IN=11892 Due: Oct. 1, 2010

Preferences: "We are seeking an archaeologist who is actively engaged in theoretically informed topical research that includes the study of ceramic technology or related materials analysis."

Speculation: this opening is likely related to the recent departure of Kostalena Michelaki.


 * Received e-mail request to send PDFs of publications. Short List selection to be made by late Nov. (10/14)
 * Received rejection letter via email (11/03)

University of Nevada, Reno
Position: Assistant professor, historical archaeology

Ad: http://saa.org/Careers/JobAnnouncements/tabid/256/Default.aspx#University_of_Nevada

Preferences: Expertise in historical archaeology of North America; a geographical focus on the American West and interest in a second geographical area

Due: November 15

University of Oklahoma
Position: Assistant Professor Position in Southeastern Archaeology, Tenure-Track

Preferences: Southeastern, prehistory, four-fields.

Due: Oct. 1, 2010

THE DESCRIPTION FOR THIS POSITION ON THE SAA JOB POSTING SITE SAYS "Area of specialization must be in the prehistory of the Americas, with a preference for specialization in the Southeast U.S". WISH THE DESCRIPTION HERE HAD BEEN ACCURATE.
 * Sorry you missed something you'd have been interested in. Knowing this, I'd probably have applied for this job too, but I consider it my own fault for not following up well enough. As far as I can tell, this site is a collection of posts added as people feel like it and have time. I suspect some jobs are not just incorrectly described but are missing from the wiki altogether, but they aren't ones I was applying for/hoping for news on, so I haven't gone through to check. If you have the time to do some cross-checking yourself, I am sure everyone would appreciate it.
 * Yes, in fact I think what happened is that OU sent out a job announcement at the beginning of the season with the description listed here then updated it later with broader language. You might still try applying, many places continue to accept applications until positions are filled.
 * Request for letters of rec received 10/05 (x4)
 * By 8/05, do you mean August 5th? Thank you - I just sent out an application and was wondering about this.
 * Sorry about that, mistyped. It was October 5.
 * For the person who missed the deadline-- I talked to someone from there recently (not on the hiring committee, though!) who says they're really serious about wanting a SE specialist for this, if it makes you feel any better...
 * on-campus interviews scheduled week of 11/8 and 11/15

University of Pittsburgh
Position: Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)

Preferences: early complex societies in East Asia

Due: Oct 1. 2010

Portland State University
Position: Assistant/Associate Professor, Archaeology, Tenure Track Position

Preferences: Quantitative methods and expertise in geoarchaeology, GIS, or analysis of material remains; proven funding; teaching experience; community engagement. Area specialization in western North America (excluding the Southwest) required.

Due: Oct. 31, 2010


 * Anyone know why the SW is specifically excluded? It doesn't show up in any faculty profile on their website.
 * Received request for references and additional materials 11/5

Purdue University
Position: tenure track assistant professor, Department of Anthropology and the African American Studies and Research Center

Ad: http://careercenter.aaanet.org/jobs#/detail/3579535

Preferences: Sub-disciplinary field is open. Desired specializations include, but are not limited to, peoples of the African Diaspora, identity politics, critical race theory, African religious traditions, environmental injustice, health and health disparities, and their applied approaches

Due date: November 1

San Diego State University
Position: The Department of Anthropology invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in archaeology at the level of assistant professor to begin Fall of 2011.

Preferences:Candidates should have an areal specialization in California and the Great Basin, the Greater Southwest, or Northwestern Mesoamerica. Current work should encompass human-environmental issues (including sustainability), subsistence economies, or agriculture.

Due: The search committee will begin screening applications on November 1, 2010. http://anthropology.sdsu.edu/news.html

Received confirmation/affirmative action card- 11/2 x2

Santa Clara University
Position: Historical archaeologist (assistant or associate professor level)

Ad: http://careercenter.aaanet.org/jobs#/detail/3608645

Preferences: Expertise in California archaeology, including prehistoric, is strongly preferred.

Due date: October 31


 * AAA interview scheduled 11/4

SUNY Plattsburgh
Position: Assistant Professor, Tenure Track

Preferences: Pretty wide open, broadly trained field archaeologist who can also teach about evolution

Deadline: February 1

University of Utah
( Link? Can't find it in usual places? )Found it, thank god 'net skills aren't part of the job search.

Link to U of Utah's version of the ad: http://www.anthro.utah.edu/PDFs/biocult_ad_posted.pdf

Position: Assistant or Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology

Preferences: The successful candidate will have an active research program that uses evidence to evaluate theoretically-motivated hypotheses. Area of specialization is open, but an interest in health-related issues, broadly construed, is a plus.

Due: November 15, 2010


 * This appears to be a medical/cultural position. Should we remove it from this page?
 * Their actual ad (not AAA) doesn't read that way, although it's incredibly vague. It's hard to tell whether they'd consider an archaeologist or not. (They have another, specifically sociocultural search going on too.)

University of Western Ontario
Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Classical Studies

Preferences: Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated research interest in Roman Archaeology. Competitive applicants will demonstrate a solid background in Greek and Latin philology.

Due: November 1, 2010

University of Wisconsin La Crosse
Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology/Archaeology

Preferences: North America, Midwest


 * This position was posted last year, anybody know the skinny?
 * It was a failed search. They couldn't find anyone they wanted to hire.
 * They've also changed the specifics of what they're looking for a little bit.
 * Ironic that they couldn't find anyone after the insane amount of application materials they wanted up front last year.
 * request for additional materials (grad transcript, teaching and research statement, evidence of teaching, responses to 5 questions) rec'd 10/14
 * AAA interviews are being scheduled as of 11/2

University of Vermont
Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology

Assistant Professor position in the Anthropology of Food Systems (sub-field open) (they're interested in archaeologists)

Posted: 09-10-2010

Due: Nov. 1

Lehigh University
Position: Lucy G. Moses Professorship in environmental anthropology

Preferences: mid-career anthropologist at the associate or full professor level who will contribute to the university’s interdisciplinary Environmental Initiative as well as to the department’s own programs; see ad on AAA site for details

Due: early January

Pennsylvania State University
Position: associate or full professor with tenure in environmental anthropology

Preferences: environmental anthropology, environmental archaeology, or the area of human-environmental interaction (including plant domestication); see ad on AAA site for details

Due: December 10

Southern Methodist University
Position: Senior Tenured Faculty, Bioarchaeology

Preferences: fairly broad; must be willing to serve as Department Chair in the near future.

Queens University Belfast (N. Ireland)
Position: A professorial-level appointment in Archaeology in the School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology.

Due: 4 October 2010

Established Professor of Archaeology
National University of Ireland, Galway

Placed on: 29-09-2010

Salary: £97,563 to £125,344

http://www.jobs.ac.uk/enhanced/job/ABS764.html

Southern Illinois University
One year post-doc - Center for Archaeological Investigations Visiting Scholar. SIU knows who they want to offer this position to for 2010-2011, but as of the SAAs, they didn't have approved funding

- did they end up offering this to someone? I notice that the call has come out for this one again, starting August 2011

-yes, they did. Here's the link to the conference info: http://www.cai.siuc.edu/vspages/wilshusen/callforpapers.html

Stanford Archaeology Center
The Stanford Archaeology Center announces a postdoctoral position in any area of global heritage with some preference for applicants working on archaeological ethics, rights and internationalism. The application receipt deadline is September 1, 2010. Interviews will be held in October 2010 and the position will begin in early January, 2011.

- are the finalists going to give research presentations? are they posted on the event calendar?

Rejection email rec'd 10/14 x 2

University of Pittsburgh One Year Visiting Scholar
Due Feb 22?

Dumbarton Oaks
Nov. 1 deadline?

Flagler College
Position: Assistant Professor (Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Preferences: Teaching-focused, broad perspective, public archaeology, SE geographic focus helps

Due: Dec 1, 2010


 * Be sure to read the job ad on this one, it's a tiny school and there is a lot in the wording.
 * I believe this instution does not have a tenure system; the ad does not describe it as a tenure-track position.

Georgia Gwinnett College
Position: Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor

Preferences: It looks like they are building a new program and casting a very wide net. Public or applied specialty helps.

No deadline listed.

I researched this job and the college. I believe that the college does NOT offer tenure-track jobs, but renewable contracts for its faculty.

New Mexico State University, Department of Anthropology
Archaeologist with expertise in the Archaeology of the American Southwest for a 1 semester position for Spring 2011; possibility of a one year position for academic year 2011-12. Applications due October 11.

(I can't find this job anywhere except emails, so here's the full text until it appears elsewhere.) Expertise in either historic or prehistoric archaeology is acceptable. Additional expertise in geospatial analytical skills, public or collaborative archaeology, or lithic analysis is desirable. A strong grounding in archaeological method and theory essential.Successful candidates will demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching at undergraduate and MA level. Experience with distance education teaching technologies desirable. Completion of Ph.D. preferred, advanced ABD candidates may be considered. Submit letter of interest, CV, unofficial transcripts that show award of terminal degree, and names and contact information for at least 3 references to: Miriam Chaiken, Department Head, Department of Anthropology, Breland Hall Room 329, MSC 3BV, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 (Email:[mailto:mchaiken@nmsu.edu mchaiken@nmsu.edu)]

Rumor: I have heard the department would like another tenure-track person, but hasn't been able to secure the funding. So, there's a remote chance this could get your foot in the door for something more permanent?

+1 to rumor


 * I hope this rumor is about an archaeology position-- it looks like they just posted one for medical anthropology. http://www.nmsu.edu/~personel/postings/faculty/14272439.html

James Cook University (Queensland, Australia)
Lecturer, Archaeology

Description: The School of Arts and Social Sciences seeks to appoint a Lecturer to work as part of the Department of Anthropology, Archaeology and Sociology's Archaeology Teaching and Research Team. Preference will be given to individuals who have experience in research and teaching in Archaeology, Historical Archaeology, Coastal Archaeology and/or Cultural Heritage Studies. See full description on Academic Keys here: [IDX=26726-SO101019m&oid=581723 James Cook University job announcement at Academic Keys] OR at James Cook here: http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/jobs/academic/JCUPRD1_066005

Deadline is Nov 5, 2010


 * Not sure if this is considered tenure-track or temporary, so someone may want to move this to another category.

General Discussion, Rumors, and Speculation:
RE: the U of Oklahoma post. I used to rely entirely on the AAA career center or this wiki for job announcements. I often found that the SAA did not have their web page stuff together. However, given what I experienced with that job posting, and the mixed postings, I learned my lesson. I will now be following the SAA board as well, and will attempt to cross-check posts (I hope others will do the same). Academic Keys is also another source of jobs, although I find they rarely post for Anthropology/Archaeology.


 * I keep my eye on SAA, AAA, Chronicle of Higher Ed, HigherEdJobs.com, and University Affairs (for Canadian postings). Surprising how many things are not cross-listed on these job boards.

It would be great if people could add some general information about qualifications/preferences from the job ads along with the jobs as they come in (and even better if insiders could add any rumors concerning what these departments REALLY want but didn't say in the job ad!).

Never trust the "insiders". If they are good members of the committee, they will keep their mouth shut. So "insiders" are either not really involved, or they have their own ax to grind. My partner was assured by an "insider" that she had the job. She didn't, and all the insider wanted was to have sex with her. I got a job after an insider told me I didn't have a chance (turns out he was the only one who thought that). Basically, job ads are the product of a committee, so each person has his/her own view of what they are looking for. The moral of the story, apply to jobs, put your best foot forward, and hope that is what they collectively want.

I agree with the sentiments of distrust, but I'd still like to hear the rumors and speculation; I think most people know to take those with a big grain of salt. Without some rumormongering, the wiki's only usefulness over the official job posting sites is hearing when other people get their rejection letters or interviews scheduled.