Alcoholism In Archaeology

It’s a point of professional pride that hotel bars typically run out of several kinds of booze at archaeological conferences. Or even just when a crew of archaeologists is based at a hotel for a fieldwork project.

Archaeologists simply drink more than the average person. It’s a bit of a trope at this point, as a teetotaling archaeologist is usually looked at askance or with suspicion unless they declare it’s because they prefer other low-key vices like pot in its place.

Even outside the profession I’ve heard the endearing term “alcohologist” used to refer to archaeologists. My own wife even banned more than three archaeologists in our house at a time (including me), because the wine cellar would inevitably get raided for a shocking amount of liquid deliciousness. But the whole thing is usually treated with an “archaeologists will be archaeologists” shrug and a smile.

After all, archaeologists aren’t normal people. They’re usually drawn to the swashbuckling, adventuring fast life that is being an archaeologist. Even more research-heavy archaeologists tend toward this professional drinking culture. One of my professors would proudly proclaim to graduate students that the “no standing or dancing on the tables” sign in the student pub was because of him.