Archaeology can be
– Getting enough proof for the Department of Transportation that the local tribes are correct, there is an ancient burial site there, the DoT cannot thus build the highway there
– Identifying and cataloguing mass graves that the government claims does not exist and assisting with both identification and reuniting remains with surviving loved ones
– Investigating impacts of climate anomalies on premodern agricultural communities, which helps other climate scientists with their models
– Rescuing sites from natural disasters or wars and helping local authorities safely take possession of artifacts
– Assisting with locating and disposing of old munitions
And so forth.
Archaeology is actually a pretty hard science. It is an applied science, and it has multiple applications. Most archaeologists are effectively grossly underpaid manual laborers during dig seasons, and it’s not 1912 anymore. There are codified ethical standards. If you take a bone home from a dig without proper custody you will never work in the field again.