History Main / AdventurerArchaeologist

It also didn't help that the swashbucklng in fiction [[RealityIsUnrealistic had a small kernal of truth.]] Militarized archeology has an uncomfortably long history. Around the time it was coming into its' own as a respectable field, the world was hit by [[WorldWarOne one]] [[WorldWarTwo major conflict]] [[ColdWar after another]], each of which saw archeology politicized and militarized to a dangerous degree. For reasons ranging from [[ArchaeologicalArmsRace trying to dig up the remnants of heavily mythologized "advanced civilizations" for technological or ideological benefit]] or [[EspionageTropes as a neat way to do spying]], preservation and cataloging of the past often had to negotiate minefields of militarized looting, diplomatic relations, and warring superpowers and local factions.

By the time WorldWarOne began, most of the participants in it- like Indiana Jones- tended to be properly trained archeologists who tried to handle things properly and also tried to keep their military involvement separate from their archeology (RalphBagnold for instance was an archeologist who signed up for the British military and used his experience and innovations to help form the Desert Rats). But it wasn't uncommon for archeological expeditions to be run like military expeditions (particularly during the war years). On occasion, these forces and their affiliated armed forces and intelligence agencies might even clash, with people getting killed and some priceless finds being either damaged or destroyed. Sometimes just to deny them to the enemy.

* Professor BerniceSummerfield, in the Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse.

* ''MortalEngines'' has two of these: the cowardly SmallNameBigEgo Nimrod Pennyroyal is more of a subversion, while the driven, hard-edged Thaddeus Valentine plays it deadly straight.

It also didn't help that the swashbucklng in fiction [[RealityIsUnrealistic had a small kernal of truth.]] Militarized archeology has an uncomfortably lone history. Around the time it was coming into its' own as a respectable field, the world was hit by [[WorldWarOne one]] [[WorldWarTwo major conflict]] [[ColdWar after another]], each of which saw archeology politicized and militarized to a dangerous degree. For reasons ranging from [[ArchaeologicalArmsRace trying to dig up the remnants of heavily mythologized "advanced civilizations" for technological or ideological benefit]] or [[EspionageTropes as a neat way to do spying]], preservation and cataloging of the past often had to negotiate minefields of militarized looting, diplomatic relations, and warring superpowers and local factions.

Not so in fiction-land. Since most of the world has [[EndOfAnAge the ruins of ancient and powerful civilizations]] littered under the surface, archeology is a career that brings one constantly face to face with LostTechnology, [[SealedEvilInACan imprisoned evils]], and {{MacGuffin}}s. Lots of {{MacGuffin}}s. If it takes place on Earth and the writers don't make one up, it'll usually be something like an Egyptian tomb (expect a {{mummy}} to haunt our hero) or the [[PublicDomainArtifact Holy Grail]].

This has fortunately died down massively in recent decades, but it can still happen in select areas. Small wonder that many archeologists in real life learned to take up arms and get tout of tight situations, and that those experiences have been distorted and blown out of proportion in the public imagination.

By the time WorldWarOne began, most of the participants in it= like Indiana Jones- tended to be properly trained archeologists who tried to handle things properly and also tried to keep their military involvement separate from their archeology (RalphBagnold for instance was an archeologist who signed up for the British military and used his experience and innovations to help form the Desert Rats). But it wasn't uncommon for archeological expeditions to be run like military expeditions (particularly during the war years). On occasion, these forces and their affiliated armed forces and intelligence agencies might even clash, with people getting killed and some priceless finds being either damaged or destroyed. Sometimes just to deny them to the enemy.

It also didn't help that the swashbucklng in fiction [[RealityIsUnrealistic had a small kernal of truth.]] Militarized archeology has an uncomfortably lone history. Around the time it was coming into its' own as a respectable field, the world was hit by [[WorldWarOne one]] [[WorldWarTwo major conflict]] [[ColdWar after another]], each of which saw archeology politicized and militarized to a dangerous degree. For reasons ranging from [[ArcheologicalArmsRace trying to dig up the remnants of heavily mythologized "advanced civilizations" for technological or ideological benefit]] or [[EspionageTropes as a neat way to do spying]], preservation and cataloging of the past often had to negotiate minefields of militarized looting, diplomatic relations, and warring superpowers and local factions.

To be fair, Howard Carter's expedition to retrieve Tutankhamun's body and treasures was sensational, and is probably about the closest to Indiana Jones or Lara Croft that real history has come. Finding the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang]] would have been a glorious experience, as well. So while there isn't quite the same level of swashbuckling that Indy experienced, if you're lucky, hitting the jackpot can still be one hell of an adrenaline rush.

* Briefly lampshaded in ''{{Warehouse 13}}'', when the agents are sent to unearth Warehouse 2 in Egypt, [[Creator/HGWells Helena Wells]] changes into a very LaraCroft-esque outfit. When asked by Myka what she's doing, Helena explains that she's done research what female archaeologists wear. Myka corrects her, explaining that this is what American film-makers ''think'' female archaeologists wear.

** TheDCU's [[TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] BlueBeetle Dan Garrett found the scarab that gave him his powers while looking through an ancient tomb.

** This trend may have been due, in part, to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in the 1920s. Egyptology was so popular in the 1920s and early 1930s that the Chrysler Building's architecture was modelled after ancient Egyptian designs. This carried over into TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, when many super-heroes got their start.

* Mariah from ''TheWarlord'' is an archaeologist who becomes a sword-swinging heroine upon her transport to the LostWorld of Skartaris.

%%* Comicbook/{{X-Men}} has Cain Marko, before he found the magic gem that turned him into TheJuggernaut.
%%* Charles and Marilyn Batson, parents of [[{{Shazam}} Billy "Captain Marvel" Batson]], before being killed by their associate Theo "Black Adam" Adam.

* Abbey Chase of ''DangerGirl'', at least before she joined the titular team of spies. She's actually wanted in several countries for graverobbing, among other things.

* Annabelle Riggs of ''[[TheDefenders Fearless Defenders]]'' is an archaeologist, and one who apparently consciously modeled herself on Indiana Jones.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', RedTornado, in his secret identity as an archaeology professor, tells his students that archaeology is not about adventuring but rather long hours of boring research. [[HypocriticalHumor Then he saves Christmas alongside Batman.]] The adventure itself had nothing to do with archaeology...

** Max Eilerson, from the short-lived spinoff ''Crusade'', is an archaeologist who joins the crew of the Excalibur to gallivant across the Galaxy exploring the ruins of ancient alien civilizations.

Often the main character in a JungleOpera. Related to, but distinct from, the BoldExplorer.

* Annabelle Riggs of ''Fearless Defenders'' is an archaeologist, and one who apparently consciously modeled herself on Indiana Jones.

** In the StarTrekMirrorUniverse, the novel ''Worst of Both Worlds'' has Jean Luc Picard of the Mirror Universe as a Treasure Hunter while also being a slave for Gul Madred. He eventually runs away and uses the treasures and wonders he's found to destroy the Borg Cube that invades the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance.

* The Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse has a side character, never featuring clearly, named [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Corellia_Antilles Corellia Antilles]] who is basically a {{Gender Flip}}ped {{Expy}} of Indy. Her name is similarly place plus common last name - her real name is Henrietya - she specializes in "dangerous artifact collection" aka treasure hunting, and she was the subject of a popular series of holos.

* Locke from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' represents the thief class in the game and has the "steal" command. But call him a treasure hunter or he'll rip your lungs out!!!

* The ''Back East'' supplement for ''{{Deadlands}}'' included an Archaelogist archetype suitable for use as a player character that was very heavily based on Indiana Jones.

* ''VideoGame/SecretFiles'' has [[Deuteragonist Max Gruber]] who fits the trope. In the second game of the series, Sam Peters, a classmate of Max, is a rare female version.

* Sylvanus Morley was, by all accounts, an excellent archeologist whose excavations of Mayan ruins in Mexico were highly influential. They also made a good cover for his spying for the American government during WorldWarOne.

* ShowWithinAShow example from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. In "Read it and Weep", while Rainbow Dash is in the hospital, she reads about Adventure Archaeologist JustForFun/DaringDo[[note]]Yes, we have an article on the book[[/note]], as we watch her exploits on screen. It's basically an homage to Indiana Jones.

** The Greeks tend to think the last and still want to get the Marbles back. The Acropolis museum even has holes in which the Marbels should go with something written about how the Marbles are, unfortunately, still in the British museum.

--->'''The Doctor:''' An archeologists?\\

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': Professor River Song in ''Silence in the Library''.
-->'''The Doctor:''' I'm a time traveller. I point and laugh at archeologists.

--> '''Rory''' (To Dr. Song): So... What kind of doctor are you?
-->'''River''': Archeology. [[[OffhandBackhand Shoots alien behind her]]] Love a tomb.

* The fictional version of Jackie Chan from ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''.
** This trope is parodied, however, when he comes to his niece's career day and gives an accurate explanation of what archeology is like in real life. He'd rather do the proper archeology, but rarely has time before the bad guys show up to try to grab the artifact.

* Nathan Drake from the ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}'' series. Lampshaded: No one ever calls what he does 'archeology'. They all refer to him as a thief, and they're absolutely right, though [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI he'd probably prefer "treasure hunter"]]. It's just, sometimes treasure is inside museums, or under guard by heavily-armed mercenaries...

* If IndianaJones re-popularized it in recent years, given the movies are {{Genre Throwback}}s.

* In ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'', the members of [[AcademyOfAdventure Mahora's]] Library Club are all Adventure Archaeologists in training. Said [[GreatBigLibraryOfEverything library is filled with booby traps, cliffs, waterfall, and magical items]]. Students are actually banned from going to the lower levels because of the danger.