Do archaeologists get special offers like visiting certain places nobody else is allowed to see?

Dr. dig responds:
Archaeologists and serious students of archaeology do often get a few special privileges when visiting other archaeological sites. They may get a private tour from the director of another site or get to visit a museum or archive when it is otherwise closed to the public. Just the way a visiting doctor may get a behind the scenes view of the operating rooms of a foreign hospital, so may a professional archaeologist get a behind the scenes view of site or laboratory he or she is visiting.

These privileges are granted not because archaeologists want to keep the general public out, but because they have only a limited amount of time (and money) to show people around. Because of their tight budgets, they limit accompanied behind the scenes tours to just a few.

If you are really, really interested in visiting a site and taking a behind the scenes look at things, then write or call the director of the excavation beforehand. Most archaeologists are thrilled to take young enthusiasts around--they just need a little advance warning.