Employability strategies and the search for Decent Work in peruvian archaeology

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21142/DES-1703-2025-0067

Keywords:

Archaeology, decent work, labor conditions, informality, discrimination

Abstract

In Peru, education in archaeology marginally addresses the labor market and working conditions. Given this situation, a diagnosis of the national labor scenario was carried out with the objectives of identifying strategies adopted by professionals between 23 and 40 years of age to guarantee their employment, and recognizing the factors that undermine Decent Work. Consequently, a self-administered survey was issued to the population of actively working archaeologists. Additionally, six professionals from the same population segment were interviewed. The results show that professional licensing, volunteer work, development of soft skills and professional networks, as well as a solid academic education favor insertion and job performance, while bad professional practices, restricted job offers, discrimination and violence, the precarious nature of employment contracts, infringement of the work schedule, and the absence of an influential labor union or association are the factors that hinder Decent Work in archaeology.

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Author Biographies

  • Miguel A. Palacios Arce, UNMSM

    Bachelor in Archeology from the National University of San Marcos. He has participated as a volunteer in bioanthropological classification and excavation in the Archeology area of ​​Parque de las Leyendas during the summer of 2022. During the first semester of 2023 and 2024, respectively, he was supporting ceramic classification work in the office of Dr. Vega Centeno at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Additionally, he has been assistant to archaeologist Oscar Arias in matters of registration of ceramic material at the end of 2023. Between July and August of this year, he has worked as a volunteer in excavation and cabinet within the framework of the project “Early interregional interaction in the southern Andes of Ecuador”, directed by the PhD candidate, Mg. Estanislao Pazmiño. He has carried out two investigations, the first is a joint effort with colleague Daniela Silva to understand the work scenario for archeology professionals in Peru. The second approaches a definition of the Amazonian networks of river interaction in which the cultural transmission of ceramic forms of bridge-handle and neck-handle bottles occurred, using data from studies conducted in Ecuador and Peru. He participated as a volunteer in the laboratory area of ​​the Huaca Pucllana Site Museum during 2024.

  • Daniela R. Silva Pardavé , Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Lima, Perú

    Bachelor in Archeology from the National University of San Marcos. Throughout her academic training, she has developed experience in the archaeological field through his participation in excavation, prospecting and ceramographic analysis projects. Her background includes volunteer excavation in the Parque de las Leyendas (July to December 2022), prospecting and laboratory work in Huaca Pucllana (July 2023 and March 2024), and contribution to the Archaeological Research Project at the sites of Cerro Narrio, Loma de Pinzhul and El Bosque in Ecuador, with the entry of quantitative and qualitative information into the ceramographic analysis database, in collaboration with the University from Yamagata (Japan) in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, she completed an internship at the Pacopampa Archaeological Research Project in Cajamarca, under the direction of Ma. Yuji Seki, in which field and laboratory practices were delved into. Her main academic interest is focused on the study of Wairajirca pottery technology and the social processes of the Huánuco region, a line that she explores in the current development of her thesis.

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Published

2025-08-29

How to Cite

Employability strategies and the search for Decent Work in peruvian archaeology. (2025). Desde El Sur, 17(3), e0067. https://doi.org/10.21142/DES-1703-2025-0067

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