I started out in Archaeology in the early 1970's but got side tracked with life. I decided to get back into the field several years ago. I went back to college part time to finish my degree in Anthropology. In 2005 I finished my Degree and got my first summer seasonal job with the forest service. Since then I have worked for either the Natioal Park or National Forest service each season.

It was easier going back to school than I thought and I recieved lots of support from friends and family. From my experience I would recomend getting into a good Anthropology/Archaeology program and field school, look for volunteer programs and even intern programs (yes, your are not to old for intern programs, I did two interships at 50+ years old). The benifit I did have was I worked swing shift which left my days clear for school and intern work.

Good Luck and don't lose focus on your goals.

There is a short Master's program offered through the University of Georgia at this time. A few people in the field don't take it real seriously because of it's length of time spent in school, but that's just rumormill as far as I know for sure. It's right down the road from you, if you can stand Atlanta traffic. Here's the link:

 http://www.anthro.uga.edu/programs/masters.htm

The University of Georgia program looks interesting.  I really don't know anything about it.

It's also been my experience from the past 15 years in CRM that unless you go to a top school, a master's degree is a master's degree.  As long as you have experience, all it really takes is MA or MS after your name and you'll be in good shape. 

Amen.  For fieldwork, just get the degree, any degree, the one that costs you the least in cash and time.  It's the fieldschool and experience you get that will be your selling factor in getrting jobs.  If you want to teach, however, the school and the research you do PLUS any student teaching experince you get is the key to getting jobs. In teaching, the schools reputation is everything, they are going to hire a Harvard grad over a State of Whatsamatter U grad every time.