The 10 best archaeologists in movies, TV, and games, ranked

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is finally in theaters, offering the long-awaited fifth entry in the immortal saga of the eponymous adventuring archaeologist. And yet while there are only five official Indy movies, the cinematic might of Dr. Henry Jones Jr. has cast a long shadow across not just movies, but all forms of media. In short, Indiana Jones made archaeology a cool job for a hero to have.

There are various tomb-raiding characters in films, TV, and games who very much follow in Indy’s footsteps, being larger-than-life swashbuckling sorts who go on globe-trotting adventures. Other fictional archaeologists may be slightly closer to fact or else their profession is just one element of their persona – so much so that you might just forget what they do for a day-job in the first place.

Regardless of what kind of archaeologist they are, all are welcome in this run-down of the finest treasure-seeking, bone-dusting history buffs from across pop culture, be they from sci-fi, supernatural, or superhero-themed media. Let’s get excavating…

10. Elizabeth Shaw

It’s an impossible task to take over as the new protagonist of the Alien franchise after Sigourney Weaver’s inimitable Ellen Ripley, but while Prometheus didn’t exactly hit the same spot as earlier entries in the series, fans have always taken warmly to Noomi Rapace’s Elizabeth Shaw – who is much more of an intellectual heroine than an action one like Ripley. Although, having said that, we do essentially have her to thank for the existence of Xenomorphs in the first place. Even though Dr. Shaw doesn’t really get the whole “don’t recklessly touch stuff” part of archaeology.

9. Hawkman and Hawkgirl

While Aldis Hodge’s version was depicted as more of a Bruce Wayne-type than his comic book counterpart, the Smallville take on the character did a better job showcasing his archaeological roots as one season 10 episode saw Lois Lane joining Carter Hall for an expedition in Egypt. While Hawkman is more generally associated with being an archaeologist in DC lore, his eternally reincarnated love interest Hawkgirl occasionally follows him into the profession too, notably in the DC Bombshells universe.

8. Doctor Fate

What is it with DC superheroes having archaeology day jobs? On top of the Hawks, Dan Garrett’s Blue Beetle and (sorry to remind you of Suicide Squad) Enchantress, we have Doctor Fate. Much like his Justice Society teammate Carter Hall, Kent Nelson’s status as an archaeologist was mostly glossed over in Black Adam. Nonetheless, Pierce Brosnan did a terrific job as a venerable hero cursed with the power of prophecy, serving as one of the few highlights of Dwayne Johnson’s dud of a DC debut.

7. Doctor Aphra

Doctor Aphra makes her debut appearance in the Darth Vader comic series. A morally dubious archaeologist, mechanic, and lover of murderous droids, Aphra has a knack for getting into trouble. The weapons collector firmly believes that fear of the unknown — aka literal murder machines — is a waste of time and that those oh-so-dangerous pieces of history should be shared and studied.  More than capable of discovering Luke Skywalker’s true identity and outplaying Darth Vader himself, Aphra is a mighty contender for the best archaeologist in the galaxy.

6. River Song

“I’m a time traveler, I point and laugh at archaeologists.” So says David Tennant’s Doctor upon meeting Alex Kingston’s Professor River Song, and yet from this arrogant introduction sprung the most epic and timey-wimey love story in Doctor Who history. Playing out across the Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi era, the complex and tragic romance between the Doctor and River is the stuff of Whoniverse legend, but let’s not overlook River’s importance as her own character. Equally as adept at excavating a tomb of Weeping Angels, toting a gun while facing an alien invasion, or dressing to the nines, River is an archaeologist who points and laughs at time travelers.

5. Benjamin Gates

Once again, not technically an archaeologist, Benjamin Gates is one of the more archaeologist-adjacent entries on this list. A treasure hunter and cryptologist, Gates enjoyed a successful career long before he made the bold decision to steal the Declaration of Independence. 

Nic Cage is famous for many things, but among America’s youth his greatest accomplishment is inarguably contained within National Treasure’s heavily-memed Declaration of Independence storyline, and there’s no denying how impressive his work in the 2004 film is. He might come off as a bit more conman than scientist — after all, that’s quite the heist — but through all the misappropriation of treasured American artifacts, he’s still focused on that ever-necessary goal of preserving history.

4. Rick O’Connell and Evie Carnahan

Sometimes two archaeologists are better than one. Like several of the other entries on this list, neither Rick O’Connel nor Evie Carnahan are technically archaeologists by trade, but their combined skills make for a team of truly epic proportions. Evie’s got the information area covered — thanks to a background in egyptology and a lifelong dream of finding the Book of Amun-Ra — and O’Connell lays out enemies like Indiana Jones on steroids. 

Individually, both Evie and O’Connell likely would have ended up dead or lost in a pitch-dark ancient tomb, but as a team, they are a powerhouse unlike any other. Flawlessly trading quips, and with a female lead that doesn’t sacrifice strength for her femininity, the O’Connell/Carnahan team-up is one for the ages — even if they didn’t manage to “discover” so much as “destroy.”

3. Nathan Drake

He’s not technically an archaeologist, but Uncharted’s Nathan Drake ticks all the right boxes to deserve a spot on this list. Untrained in the specifics of archaeology, like carbon dating and the humdrum process of properly excavating artifacts, Drake still manages to locate and recover some truly impressive antiquities. Known for his witty comebacks, supreme luck in the face of impossible odds, and knack for tracking down elusive finds, Drake may call himself a “treasure hunter,” but he’s up there with the greats of archaeology. Now if he could just sort out how to keep from causing so much mayhem everywhere he goes. 

2. Lara Croft

More than a decade after Indiana Jones made archaeology look much cooler than Howard Carter ever could, Lara Croft proved that it could also be alluring. Sauntering onto the scene in 1996 with the first-ever Tomb Raider game, Lara’s design has changed significantly over the years, but we’ll always remember those massive, pointy boobs that helped popularize the character.

These days, Lara is treated much more as an actual contender for the title of “best fictional archaeologist,” thanks to numerous modernized reboots. No, we’re not talking about Angelina Jolie’s sensual take on the character (though she did channel the sex appeal of the early games), but rather the clever and capable Lara that debuted in titles like 2013’s Tomb Raider, and even 2006’s Tomb Raider: Legend. This is the take on female archaeology we’ve always wanted from the franchise — adventurous, courageous, and more focused on solving puzzles and uncovering artifacts than with showing skin.

1. Indiana Jones

The man, the myth, the legend himself. Indiana Jones made being a swashbuckling archaeologist cool, and all these other copycats are just Dr. Jones wannabes. Don’t get me wrong, we love the likes of O’Connell and Croft in this newsroom, but they’ll never quite match up to what makes Indy, Indy. He’s played to flawless perfection by Harrison Ford, and — over more than 40 years — he’s only suffered a few missteps. Indiana is clever, well-read, and utterly fascinated by the work he does. Sure, he’s punched more Nazis than Captain America, but Jones is an academic at heart. He’s enthralled by the items he hunts, trinkets and testimonies to lost worlds and long-abandoned civilizations, and it’s his heart, passion, and schoolboy eagerness that really makes him the best of the best.