What does an archaeologist do?

I admit it, I have a fairly unusual occupation.  When people find out that I am an archaeologist, they usually respond with surprise, varrying levels of interest, and some follow-up questions as to what it is we actually do.  After several years of these conversations, I have compiled the following short list of what archaeologists do, and what we do not do.  Contrary to what you may have heard in the popular media, it's not all fisticuffs with Nazis* and running around with beautiful people.

Archaeologists DO study the material remains of human beings.  People in the past left stuff behind in the places where they lived.  We find this stuff and learn whatever we can about the people who originally left it behind.  Most archaeologists work in one of four general job categories.  Academic archaeologists work as instructors and researchers in colleges and universities.  Museum archaeologists manage archaeological collections and help create exhibits for the public.  Government archaeologists work for land-management agencies to ensure that archaeological sites on government land are protected, and that other laws pertaining to archaeology are complied with.  Finally, many archaeologists work as consultants for governments and private businesses.   Clients, most often land developers, utility companies, government agencies, or mining interests, seek the services of cultural resource consultants to assist them in complying with a variety of federal, state, and municipal laws pertaining to archaeological resources.

Archaeologists DO NOT deal with dinosaurs or other extinct animals.  These creatures are primarily studied by paleontologists, who are trained in geology.  Some archaeologists who work in early time periods do excavate extinct animals, but as a rule, only become involved when humans were in some way associated (an example of this might be a mammoth skeleton associated with spear points).  Archaeologists to not deal with rocks like geologists, except to investigate the ways in which humans in the past used rocks (to make arrowheads, for example).

*I did have an archaeology professor who actually fought the Nazis in World War II.  I'm sure there are others out there too...