Archaeological Technician

On an archaeological technician apprenticeship course, you’ll help support archaeologists undertaking archaeological investigations.

An archaeological technician collaborates with archaeologists to do (typically commercially financed) archaeological research such as surveys, excavations, and post-excavation analyses.

Archaeologists must conduct safe surveys, excavations, analysis, publication, and archiving in line with industry norms and laws.

You may be required to work on-site or in a laboratory as an apprentice. You will assist with the physical excavation of archaeological deposits, recovering artefacts and environmental samples, helping with data collecting activities and site inspections, processing artefacts and soil samples, washing, labelling, bagging, and documenting artefacts and processing and sorting relics.

What you’ll learn

On an archaeological technician apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:

• Make use of your professional judgement and ethical behaviour to your advantage
• Investigate and incorporate pertinent background information, such as that included in project-specific Written Schemes of Investigation, archaeological archives and reports, aerial photography collections, LiDAR data, geophysical and topographic surveys, and local and national listings
• Follow all applicable Health and Safety laws, policies, and procedures to ensure their and others’ safety.
• Recognise and disclose risks to reduce the possibility of accidents.
• Work in line with the guidelines and standards of the Employer and the industry, especially the CIfA Standards and Guidance for Archaeological Excavation.
• Determine the requirements for future projects, such as durations, deadlines, work locations, and supervisors.
• Estimate your resources and choose equipment, including hand tools, surveying, recording, and measuring equipment, as well as artefact sampling, collection packaging, labelling, and processing equipment.
• Investigate and understand archaeological and cultural sites.
• Recognise, package, and conserve fragile material evidence of past civilisations
• Contribute to the establishment of archaeological site archives and museum depositories.
• Determine the information required to achieve research objectives, such as referring to project-specific Written Schemes of Investigation for archaeological strategies and appropriate published regional, period, or subject research agendas.
• Utilise appropriate procedures to access and use information, such as
• Employer-supplied technical documents, GIS systems, and databases
• Validate/evaluate the accuracy of the information, including proofreading data entry and reporting.
• Use field recordings to present data in appropriate forms for various audiences, such as plans, sections, pro-forma context recording sheets, and databases.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge and Historic Environment Practice.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and Maths, for an advanced apprenticeship.
• Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this before taking the end-point assessment.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assessment comprises three distinct assessment methods: 

• Online test of archaeological knowledge 
• Observation of practical skills
• Professional discussion supported by a portfolio

Duration, level, subjects and potential salary upon completion

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 3 Archaeological Technician Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.