Ready or Not An Archaeological KSA Needs Assessment

Debates about the best means of preparing archaeologists continue. This article reviews data from 674 archaeological job postings to assess in-demand archaeological knowledge, skills, and abilities. The needs assessment reveals American archaeology’s demand for dynamic, highly skilled professionals capable of identifying, preserving, and protecting the past. The skills demanded in archaeology job postings are the skills necessary to succeed as an archaeologist in any sector and the same skills necessary to meet the challenges faced by discipline more generally.