Lara Croft wasn't always the wildcard who somersaults through tombs and defines the term "girlboss" – she started out as an archaeologist.
We all know and love her: Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. She used to have two pistols at the ready, a completely realistic physique and a clear goal in mind: to find ancient artifacts and treasures. However, the adventurer didn't decide to become a treasure hunter straight away, but started out very down-to-earth – as an archaeologist.
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If you've always wondered what Lara's roots were like outside the Tomb Raider games, you've come to the right place. What was she up to before she raided tombs?
What Does An Archaeologist Actually Do?
Archaeologists deal with the research and interpretation of past cultures and civilizations by excavating, identifying, analyzing and then interpreting the remains of such cultures and other artifacts. This allows them to draw conclusions about past times and reconstruct extinct civilizations to a certain extent.
To achieve this, a lot of tasks have to be completed: Leading and conducting excavations, first finding the artifacts and then cleaning and classifying them, determining the age of the remains, analyzing it all in the lab... and that's just the beginning. At the end of the day, archaeology is still a science. This means that the relevant reports have to be written and the exchange with other experts is essential if you want to research the past.
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So Lara Croft is officially a very smart person, because that's what she did for a living before she became the wildcard we got to admire almost thirty years ago. It takes a lot to call yourself an archaeologist.
How Do You Become An Archaeologist? What Does An Archaeologist Need To Be Able To Do?
Becoming an archaeologist usually requires an advanced degree in archaeology or a related field, such as anthropology, history or cultural preservation. Some archaeologists also complete special training programs or internships to gain practical experience in field research.
But don't worry: unlike Lara Croft, you don't have to be particularly acrobatic to be successful. However, there are other qualities and talents that will help you:
- Passion and interest in history and culture
- Patience and perseverance for the meticulous and time-consuming work involved in excavations and research work
- Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to interpret complex artifacts and their locations
- Teamwork and communication skills to work effectively with other archaeologists and experts
- Physical fitness and the ability to work in different climatic conditions and challenging terrain
- Ethics and sense of responsibility in dealing with cultural heritage and historical artifacts
- Flexibility to adapt to different working conditions and research projects
Sounds like something for you? Then go to the university you trust and get started! And if that's not for you, we still have other job offers for gamers here.