Field Technician Resources

About the Field Technician Training Program

In 2021, the initial AWA Technician Training organizers recognized that many factors combine to limit diversity in the field of archaeology. For example, field experience is a major requirement for people seeking employment in contract archaeology. Access to field training opportunities is a hurdle for students and early career archaeologists when preparing for a job in the CRM industry and limited access to field schools disparately impacts economically disadvantaged people and People of Color. The initial organizers aimed to provide free, flexible field training opportunities that are closer to home to increase field experience accessibility. AWA joined the organizer’s efforts in 2022 and expanded independent trainings into the Field Technician Training Program. AWA understands this Program will not remedy the diversity and inclusivity problems that exist in archaeology today, but it is one step towards increasing equity.

Past trainings in this Program include sessions about historical and pre-contact artifact identification, Pacific Northwest culture history, pedestrian survey, shovel probing, monitoring, test unit excavation, human and faunal bone identification, soils and sediments, and remote sensing, among others. Some virtual presentations were recorded and posted on the “Resources for Technicians” page of the AWA website. Examples of recent trainings are available for reference here: “Field Technician Training Program.”

During past years of this Program, professional archaeological volunteers signed up to lead their preferred in-person or virtual training sessions. The professional archaeologists were responsible for creating each training’s content; providing a physical location for in-person trainings; creating and sending links to virtual trainings; providing any required equipment or readings; staffing the training sessions as appropriate; and communicating details to the students and early career archaeologists who signed up to take the trainings. Students and early career archaeologists sign up for whichever sessions they are interested in attending, and trainees are responsible for getting themselves to/from the sessions unless specific assistance or other direction is provided by the professional volunteer. AWA does not provide the trainings directly, nor does AWA endorse, recommend, or assume responsibility for the trainings. AWA expects the 2026 Program to be similar to previous years.

Helpful Information for New Field Technicians

Archaeology fieldwork is seasonal. Cultural resources management firms try to keep staff as busy as possible throughout the winter, but technicians may not get calls for a few months at a time when work is slow or the ground is covered by snow or water.

AWA encourages archaeological technicians to check in with their employers every once in a while to let them know that they are still available and interested in working. If you line up a more permanent job, then it is also nice to inform the companies you have been working for about the changes to your availability.

Be aware that project managers and office staff may use e-mail more than field technicians are used to. Be sure to provide a valid e-mail address and check that address often for job information, requests for work, and payroll needs.

Inform your employer about any planned absences (doctor's appointments or vacations) as far in advance as possible. It may not seem very important to tell your employer about an appointment 2 or 3 months ahead of time, but your employer is trying to book out work into the next season and this type of information can be helpful.

Make sure that your phone number and address are up to date and on file at each company you are working with too; especially if you have recently moved or changed phones. If you have good reasons to update your resume, then send revised copies to your employers so they can document your growth.

Field Gear

Your employer will usually provide you with a shovel, screen, tarp, and other larger tools (breaker bar, hand saw, and/or root cutters) needed to complete a cultural resources assessment. If Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required on a job, then your employer will also provide you with a hard hat, reflective vest, safety glasses, ear plugs,, and other items as needed. Check with your employer for the specific gear that is needed for each project and what they will bring for you.

When a firm does not specify, here are the items you should bring with you in your field bag (backpack):

• Clipboard with an enclosed compartment
• Pens and pencils
• Metric measuring tape
• Masonry-style trowel (pointed or squared)
• Compass (the one in your phone is usually fine as long as you're charged up and it works in the field)
• Gloves
• Appropriate weather-related gear*
• Water
• Lunch
• Optional items that might also be helpful to have include: a permanent marker, a few plastic sandwich bags, a roll of flagging tape, a few sheets of graph paper, a small photo scale, hand-held root clippers, a small brush, and a bit of duct tape rolled around a pencil just in case you need it.

Your employer will also have first aid equipment on the job, but it can be helpful to have your own pocket-sized small first aid kit with alcohol wipes and bandages. Make sure to inform your supervisor if you are hurt on the job so they can help you and document any issues. Also important would be to inform your supervisor of any medical issues and prescriptions in case of an emergency. Each company's HR department will guide how this exchange of information occurs.

The Pacific Northwest has a wide range of weather and you can even experience that range all in one day! Check the weather daily and make sure you are prepared with any needed gear such as: rain pants and a rain coat when it is wet, sun screen and a wide brimmed hat when it is sunny, a warm hat and coat when it is cold, hand warmers if you need them when it gets very cold, and cold water when it is hot outside. Wear work pants to keep your legs safe from blackberries, brush, and insects; do not wear shorts. Shirts with sleeves are also important when working in the sun and around brush. A baseball cap or brimmed hat can also be really nice to keep both the sun off your face and the spiders away during survey through brush. In general, layers and options are best. You might want to have an extra set of dry clothes in your car or in the work truck. Your employer will follow laws and regulations around heat stress when it is hot, but you should bring water too! The #1 rule is to take care of yourself and your safety!

Footwear

Field surveys typically require sturdy hiking boots that go up at least as high as your ankles. Some survey work–and often construction monitoring–occurs in wet mucky sediment. In those instances, you may prefer to wear sturdy muck/rain boots rather than typical work boots. Alternatively, some offices or specific jobs might require you to wear steel-toe boots at your own expense. It can be very useful to have your boots be waterproof no matter the footwear you decide to use (or are required to wear). Check with your employer about the best footwear for each job.

New Hire Training

Many companies require a fair amount of safety training before you are allowed to go into the field on survey. Please pay attention to the beneficial training sessions they have to offer. Even though they can be boring, they can also save your life or the life of a coworker.

Examples of some of the trainings you may be required to take upon employment include:

• CPR/First Aid
• Bloodborne Pathogens
• Defensive Driving
• Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Training
• Harassment
• Unconscious Bias
• Cybersecurity
• Software-specific Training Related to Payroll

Many companies use the same software for Payroll, but there are several variations in use. Be prepared to log into a computer to enter your time into some sort of Payroll software at the end of each week. It may be best to check in with your supervisor at the end of the week if your supervisor is supposed to enter your hours for you. This way, they will not forget and you will be sure to get paid. Keep track of the hours you worked in case there are any discrepancies in pay; especially if you are working on a large project with staff rotating in and out. Be sure to inquire about mileage reimbursement, as well as any other incurred expenses.

Additional Resources

Check out the Fieldguide to Washington Archaeology from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) for background information.

Each company uses a particular method to describe the soils and sediments that are encountered during sub-surface survey, testing, and data recovery investigations, as well as construction monitoring. Many companies have forms that will assist you with capturing the correct soil and sediment descriptions, along with any encountered cultural materials. A few companies even have digital software that you can use to enter your data electronically in the field. Please use the methods described to you directly by your employer. This is just one example of how to describe soil (that forms in place) and sediment (that is transported in by gravity, water, wind, ice, or other forces).

Questions to Ask

You've lined up some work and are ready to go! Congratulations! Make sure to ask your new employer the necessary questions so that you understand their expectations and are able to meet the needs of the job. This will greatly improve the chances that you will be called back for additional work in the future.

Example questions to ask the Project Manager on the phone before the work starts include:

• Morning meet time and exact location?
• Length of the work day? (For example is it 8 or 10 hours long and is lunch time included?)
• Will drive time to/from the work site be paid?
• Is mileage to/from the work site included? Or, is there an opportunity for car pooling?
• Are you expected to drive your own vehicle to/from the work site, and if so, what are the access roads and parking conditions?)
• What is the project per diem (daily food allowance) if you are staying out-of-town, and do you need to save receipts?
• Do you need any special gear for the work?
• Will you need to take photographs on your phone and send them to the project manager? If so, do you have the appropriate contact information and due date/time? Is your cell phone photo capable?
• Do you need any maps, drawings, forms, or project contact information ahead of time?
• Who is the land owner and do you need to reach out to them before entering any project properties?
• What should you tell the public if anyone asks about the project and/or the field investigations?

Example questions to ask the Crew Leader or Project Archaeologist/Principle Investigator before the work starts on the day of fieldwork include:

• What is the maximum depth of the project ground disturbance?
• How deeply do you need to dig any shovel probes? Is augering necessary?
• What is the expected distance between survey transects?
• Will lunch be in the field or back at the truck(s)?
• What soils/sediments should you expect?
• On what landform is the project planned?
• What cultural materials are expected, if any?