Industrial archaeology is a subfield of archaeology that focuses on studying and preserving industrial relics. Archaeology is a field of science that focuses on examining human history and society through recovered artifacts. An industrial archaeologist looks for, analyzes, and preserves the ruins of earlier industrial structures and sites. This project can have a variety of objectives, such as tracing the evolution of various industrial processes or determining how certain industrial structures relate to the society in which they were discovered. The job of an industrial archaeologist entails more than just finding artifacts; it also entails attempting to socially and historically contextualize the findings. Though an industrial archaeologist may study issues that predate the industrial revolution, most industrial archaeologists concentrate on the period after the 18th century because widespread industrialization did not occur until then.
Some industrial archaeologists study the evolution of ancient industrial techniques that have been around for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Metalworking, stonemasonry, and mining, for example, have all existed in some form or another long before the industrial revolution. An industrial archaeologist, on the other hand, is likely to concentrate his research on the period following the industrial revolution, when widespread organized industry became a foundational aspect of many societies. Despite the fact that industrialization is a relatively recent development in human history, the continuous development of new methods and technologies has resulted in the existence of many unused industrial relics for the industrial archaeologist to study and preserve.
A career as an industrial archaeologist is most likely to be found in academia. Archaeology is often considered a subfield of anthropology in many places, so archaeologists frequently work in anthropology departments. An industrial archaeologist in an academic setting will most likely divide his time between teaching, fieldwork, and research. Fieldwork typically entails surveying and excavating past industrial sites, with the goal of recovering artifacts if possible. From here, all available resources must be used to conduct research aimed at providing social and historical context and significance to the findings.
The abundance of accurate information about industry since that time makes research in industrial archaeology, at least for those who focus on the industrial revolution and later, much easier. In other cases, however, finding reliable information can be difficult, and it may be necessary to speculate on the various implications of a given finding. One of the most important ways for an industrial archaeologist to advance in his career is to publish his findings. A substantial body of well-regarded research can help you advance to a better academic position or employment at a better institution.