Also called: Lithic Analyst, Ceramic Analyst
Specializes in studying stone tools or pottery to learn how ancient people lived.
An artifact analyst examines thousands of stone flakes or pottery shards under a microscope, classifies them, and figures out how they were made and used.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. A bachelor's in anthropology with lab courses, then a master's in archaeology focused on stone tools or pottery.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Anthropology, Archaeology.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 19-3091: Faster than average (5% to 6%).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Image AI helps sort flakes and shards; expert classification and what it means about people stay human.
Classes: AP World History, Art or ceramics class, Earth science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-3091.
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