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Archaeologist

Archaeology: The Gault School of Archaeological Research, Austin, TX
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Have you always wanted to discover the secrets of ancient civilizations? Does a chill run down your spine when you think about places like King Tut’s tomb or objects like the Dead Sea scrolls? Maybe it’s time to get out of your workday rut and unlock the mysteries of the past to discover what it would be like to be an archeologist while on a VocationVacations® dream job holiday with Dr. D. Clark Wernecke.

As a little boy growing up in Wisconsin, Clark knew two things – he loved to read about history, and he hated cold weather. As a young man, he headed to Southern Methodist University in Texas where he received a bachelor’s degree in history, but the family business in lumber and building materials called him back north. To ensure his success in the business world, he pursued an M.B.A. degree from Northwestern University and eventually became a consultant in the building industry. But the lure of the past was still calling to Clark. When the boom and bust cycle of the construction business hit a low, Clark headed back to school to earn a master’s degree and then a Ph.D. in anthropology.

Clark’s work as an archaeologist took him to the jungles of Central America where he worked on the excavation of the Mayan city of El Pilar. It’s also where he met his wife, who was training in the archaeology field as well. He’s worked on sites in Belize, Guatemala and Israel, as well as all over the United States. The common thread is his lifelong interest in answering the question “who were the people that came before us and how did they live?”

When it comes to archaeology, Clark says, “I love to get my hands dirty but frankly, I could teach a monkey to do the digging work.” Being an archaeologist requires a more diverse skill set, and Clark is an expert in helping people move beyond the theoretical concepts taught in universities. In his own work, his business background makes him an ideal candidate to run large archaeological programs with complex logistics.

In 2006, Clark became the director of The Gault School of Archaeological Research, a non-profit organization dedicated to research and education. Extensive excavations of the world-famous Gault site near Austin, Texas, have yielded millions of artifacts, some of which are among the earliest in the Americas. In addition, he is a Research Associate/Project Director for the Texas Archaeological Research Lab at the University of Texas in Austin. His writings are widely published, and the Gault site has been featured in television shows such as Nova and Scientific American Frontiers.

Spending a few days with Clark on a VocationVacations® holiday provides a unique opportunity to see every facet of what the archaeology profession encompasses. From excavation, to analyzing artifacts in the lab, to learning what it takes to start and run a non-profit organization, Clark will show you the whole picture. His students and volunteers come from every conceivable walk of life, from third-graders to senior citizens. Clark jokingly describes his profession as “CSI Prehistoric”, but his passion for making history real, his mastery of the subject and his friendly, low-key teaching style make him a professor unlike any other.

While on your Archaeologist VocationVacations® dream job holiday with D. Clark Wernecke, activities will include some or all of the following:
  • Touring archaeological sites
  • Participating in archaeological excavation
  • Learning about laboratory field work
  • Flint knapping (making new stone tools and comparing them to ancient tools)
  • Manufacturing and using experimental toolsLithic sorting and analyzing
  • Introduction to Clovis technologyLearning about microscopic use-wear analysis
  • Reconstructing ancient life ways
  • Understanding paleoenvironmental reconstruction
  • Getting an overview of geoarchaeology
  • Conducting an archaeological survey
  • Reviewing archaeological project management
  • Starting and managing a non-profit
The Archaeologist VocationVacations® dream job holiday with D. Clark Wernecke includes:
  • Two days of one-on-one mentorship in your dream job as an archaeologist
  • The opportunity to participate in a total of one hour of pre- and post- VocationVacations career coaching from an accredited, affiliated VocationVacations career coach
  • A pocket-size VocationVacations journal so you can document your dream job coming to reality
  • Light lunch with your mentor

Available: All year, Monday through Friday with exception of holidays

Price: $1049 Per Person

Book this dream job vacation


Suggested Accommodations

Hyatt Place

Hampton Inn
(Not included in the price of the VocationVacations® holiday)

Other activities and tourist destinations while on your VocationVacations® adventure:

Reservation, Cancellation and Rescheduling Rules and Conditions:
Each requested date for a VocationVacation is 100% dependent upon the mentor’s approval of dates.  Each Vocationer is required to sign a liability release stating that they are 18 years or older, 21 years or older if the VocationVacation involves the production or serving of alcohol.  Full payment of the VocationVacation is required to make a reservation. A $100 non-refundable fee is assessed if a VocationVacations experience is cancelled or rescheduled prior to 14-days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday, based on the approved availability of the mentor to reschedule. A VocationVacation cannot be rescheduled and is non-refundable if cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday. Written notification of cancellation or rescheduling is required in all cases.  Grounded Nomads, LLC dba VocationVacations encourages all customers to acquire travel insurance to cover any unforeseen expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling.