Maegan is a supervising archaeologist and soon to be permit holder! Maegan completed her undergraduate degree in archaeology at the University of Calgary, after which she took a two-year hiatus from archaeology to teach English in China.  On her return to Canada, she jumped right into CRM and never looked back. She has seven years of experience in CRM archaeology working in Alberta, BC, the NWT, and Nunavut. Maegan has spent the last two years working part-time and completing her M.A. through the University of Alberta, she will be graduating and applying for Alberta Permit Holder status in the spring of 2024. Let’s get to know her better!

What made you first pursue Archaeology as a career path?

In Grade 10 I was fortunate to go to Greece on a school trip, I fell in love with all the old monuments and archaeological sites we visited. I decided digging in the dirt would be awesome if I could contribute to unearthing and preserving the mysteries of the past. When I told my parents I wanted to be an Archaeologist they weren’t sure that was a real career. I found an article titled “The Top 15 Jobs In Canada” and Archaeology was listed there, I showed my dad and he had to concede that it was in fact a real job.

Tell us one thing about yourself that 90% of us do not know?

I love to paint! It is a new hobby that I picked up during my master’s thesis, I found painting in the evenings was a good stress reliever. I am currently playing with watercolours and loving it.

If you could travel to a country specifically to do archaeology, where would it be?

Peru! During my undergraduate studies, I was fascinated by the complex civilizations that thrived in the Andes. I was particularly in awe of the Tiahuanaco civilization which thrived on the shores of Lake Titicaca. They created a unique microclimate allowing them to grow fruits and vegetables from much lower altitudes along the shore of the lake using canal systems. The ingenuity of humans is incredible.

How would you spend your evening if you were in a cabin with no cell service and no internet?

Funny you should ask; I grew up on a cattle Ranch in BC. We didn’t have cell service or internet and our 100-year-old log home was very cabin-like. We spent most of our time outdoors, but evenings were for relaxing with a good book or family time. The first thing I would do is make sure there was plenty of wood for a fire, then read a good book, or if I had good company, maybe pull out a deck of cards.

And finally, now that you have been doing this for a few years, what would you tell your (relatively) younger self?

Know your worth. It’s okay to walk away from something that isn’t right for you, choosing a different path will bring you new opportunities. When in doubt, lean into what you love.

Also, always carry a bug net (you’ll need it!).

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