Andhra Pradesh   

Make the past your future

Vidya K.S.

Closely related to history, archaeology has more focus on field surveys and practical research

Ancient temples, strange inscriptions, mysterious idols and lost civilizations. If the past is your passion, then archaeology can be your future. It is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains and environmental data. A multidisciplinary subject, it integrates history, anthropology, geology, chemistry and art. Archaeology is a field-oriented study where students must have aptitude in history, art and culture. It requires patience and travelling to remote areas on fieldwork. Plus Two students who have history as a subject can apply for undergraduate courses in B.A. archaeology or history. Three-year bachelor's degree in archaeology is offered in Banaras Hindu University - Varanasi, M.S. University Baroda, Barakatulla Vishwa Vidhyalaya Bhopal, Marathwada University - Aurangabad and M.G. University - Kerala.

Master's degree

After completing graduation, students must pursue a master's degree in archaeology. Criteria for pursuing M.A. in archaeology differ in different universities. Some admit students who have not studied history or archaeology at the undergraduate level. Master's degree in archaeology is offered at various universities in India such as University of Madras, Bangalore University, Kerala University (Thiruvananthapuram), Nagpur University, Indraprastha University (New Delhi), Osmania University (Hyderabad), Andhra University (Visakhapatnam) and many others.

"A two-year, four semester course subjects for M.A. archaeology include epigraphy, numismatics, history of Indian art and architecture, iconography and museology," says Board of Study and Chairman, Department of History and Archaeology in Andhra University, Prof. S. Nageswara Rao. Closely related to history, archaeology has some subjects in common with history but has more emphasis on field surveys and practical research.

Those who complete M.A. archaeology can apply for the University Grants Commission's (UGC) NET/JRF-Lectureship examination. Those who qualify for the Junior Research Fellowship can go for Ph.D programme with a fellowship. "The Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR) in New Delhi gives meritorious students scholarships and fellowships for research, travel and book publication," says Prof. Nageswara Rao. On qualifying the UGC examination, one can be appointed as college/university level lecturers.

Major employers

The Archaeological Survey of India, under the Central Government, and the Department of Archaeology in the States are the major employers providing job opportunities such as assistant archaeologists or archaeologists. Selection to the Archaeological Survey of India is through the Union Public Service Commission and to the State Departments of Archaeology by the respective State Public Service Commissions. "Students who have completed their M.A archaeology can find jobs as guide lecturers in museums or in the tourism department and as technical assistants in archaeological excavations or surveys," he says.

The National Museum in New Delhi, National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage and many State museums also employ archaeologists in relevant fields.

"The Institute of Archaeology under the Archaeological Survey of India also offers a two-year PG diploma in archaeology," says Prof. Nageswara Rao. Admission is through an entrance exam and interview. "The institute offers only 10 seats where one seat is reserved for a foreign student," he adds. Notification appears during May/June and the course begins in October.

M.A. students of Archaeology can also find jobs as lecturers at foreign universities that have Indian studies in their curriculum. Research and training is also possible at ICHR.

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