A professional who reconstructs record of extinct cultures, especially preliterate cultures. Responsibilities include:

• Studies, classifies, and interprets artifacts, architectural features, and types of structures recovered by excavation in order to determine age and cultural identity.
• Establishes chronological sequence of development of each culture from simpler to more advanced levels.
• May specialize in study of literate periods of major civilizations in Near and Middle East and be designated Archeologist, Classical.
• May specialize in study of past Columbian history of the Americas and be designated Historical Archeologist.