Prehistoric Archaeologist - Field Director (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

Under the scientific and operational authority of the DREH Principal Investigator, Dr Rémy Crassard (CNRS, Archéorient), the Prehistoric Archaeologist will provide the scientific and operational coordination of excavations at the Neolithic site of Al-Mathana (KH05187), in the Khaybar region, Saudi Arabia. The postholder will oversee excavation strategy across all sectors, maintain stratigraphic consistency and ensure that field recording, sampling and documentation protocols are applied throughout the project. The Field Director will organise daily operations, coordinate the documentation workflow and contribute to scientific interpretation, reporting and publication.

Activity

Scientific and operational direction of excavation
• Develop with the Principal Investigator the excavation strategy for the extensions of soundings SD1 and SD4, and for any additional sectors opened in response to new discoveries, in consultation with the Principal Investigator.
• Direct daily field operations, including sector layout, work priorities, task allocation, site meetings and scientific quality control.
• Supervise fine-resolution stratigraphic excavation, the definition of stratigraphic units and loci, architectural recording, interface documentation and site phasing.
• Ensure the implementation of the project methodology: thin-layer excavation, micro-spatial recording, full dry-sieving, on-site sediment sorting and systematic sampling of charcoal-rich or organic deposits.
• Adapt field strategy to complex sequences, especially the pre-architectural deposits and combustion features in SD4, while preserving comparability between excavation sectors.
Team supervision, coordination and safety
• Supervise field archaeologists, support specialists, technicians and students, and maintain methodological continuity with the earlier KLDAP excavations.
• Coordinate with the Project Manager, the Saudi Associate PI, artefact and environmental specialists, and AFALULA and RCU representatives.
• Contribute to practical training for Saudi and international students in prehistoric excavation, stratigraphic interpretation, recording and finds processing.
• Implement HSE procedures, preventive conservation measures, the human-remains protocol and the protection or backfilling of excavated areas.
Recording, documentation and data management
• Supervise the documentation of each locus through field records, photography, drawings, stratigraphic matrices, topographic survey, photogrammetry and 3D modelling.
• Control the recording of artefacts and samples through the project's standardised system, including Special Finds, unique identifiers, context-based batches and linked photographic records.
• Ensure the daily integration of coordinates, metadata and stratigraphic relationships into the GIS and relational database, in collaboration with the topography, GIS and database specialists.
• Validate excavation diaries, inventories, backups and end-of-season archives to ensure compliance with RCU requirements.
Finds analysis, synthesis and scientific dissemination
• Contribute to the technological and typological study of the lithic assemblages, the selection of diagnostic pieces and their graphic and photographic documentation.
• Work with the collection manager and specialists to organise the packing, inventory, sampling and transfer of artefacts to the RCU storage facility in AlUla.
• Participate in post-excavation processing, spatial and stratigraphic analysis, scientific synthesis and the preparation of technical reports for AFALULA and RCU.
• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, outreach materials and the wider dissemination of project results.

Your Profil

Skills

• PhD in Prehistory, prehistoric archaeology or a closely related field.
• Substantial experience directing or co-directing research or preventive excavations and managing multidisciplinary field teams.
• Advanced command of fine-resolution stratigraphic excavation, dry-stone architectural analysis, contextual recording and chronological sequence building.
• Demonstrated expertise in lithic technology; experience with Mesolithic or Neolithic assemblages is a major asset.
• Proficiency with standard office software, GIS (QGIS), databases and digital documentation workflows; knowledge of photogrammetry and 3D recording is desirable.
• Excellent scientific writing and reporting skills. Fluent French and professional spoken and written English are required; Arabic is desirable but not essential.
• Accuracy, autonomy, leadership, sound field judgement and the ability to work effectively in a demanding international environment.
• Availability for extended missions in Saudi Arabia. A driving licence and first-aid training are desirable.

Your Work Environment

The Dynamics of the Regional Early Holocene in Khaybar Project (DREH) is a 23-month archaeological programme led by Dr. Rémy Crassard and hosted by CNRS - Archéorient UMR 5133. It is funded and steered by AFALULA on behalf of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), with the involvement of King Saud University. The project continues the work initiated by the Khaybar Longue Durée Archaeological Project on the earliest Neolithic occupation of the region.
Al-Mathana was discovered in 2023 and preserves a stratified occupation dated to 7200-6800 cal BC. The site has produced circular dry-stone architecture, more than 48,000 lithic artefacts, over 35,000 faunal remains, bone tools, shells, personal ornaments and a sandstone animal figurine recovered from a Neolithic context. DREH will extend the excavations to investigate settlement organisation, occupational sequence, technology, subsistence and symbolic practices during the Early Holocene in northwestern Arabia.
The post will be based at Archéorient, Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée, 5 rue Raulin, Lyon, France. It involves regular and sometimes extended periods of fieldwork in Khaybar and work on the collections held at the RCU storage facility in AlUla. Activities will alternate between field preparation, excavation direction, post-excavation processing, scientific coordination and writing.

Constraints and risks

Fieldwork takes place in an arid to hyper-arid environment on uneven basalt terrain, with possible exposure to high temperatures, wind, dust and rapidly changing weather. The position involves frequent road travel between accommodation, the excavation site and storage facilities. Working hours will be adapted to climatic conditions and field seasons will include periods of shared accommodation. Personal protective equipment, HSE procedures, the prohibition of lone working and respect for local cultural requirements are mandatory.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Starting from €3,071 gross per month, depending on experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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