ARCHAEOLOGY – WE DIG THE PAST!

Saturday Science Adventure # 5

What is Archaeology?

Fossils/ArtifactsAn archaeologist is someone who

tries to figure out what life was like

in the ancient past by looking at the

remains of ancient people – their

fossils and their artifacts. An

archaeologist must know the

difference between an artifact and a

fossil.

1. Fossils are remains of living things (plants, animals,

people), not of things that were made.

2. Artifacts are remains of things that were made, not

the remains of living things.

What is a site?

A "site" is a place

archaeologists wish to

explore.

At the site, archaeologists

literally dig, looking for the

remains of ancient

civilizations. That is why

they call the site at which

they are working a “dig”.

Finding a site

How do archaeologists find sites to explore?

1. They think about what people

need to stay alive. Some ofthose things include

access to clean drinking

water, a protected place

to live, and easy access

to trade routes. With this

in mind, archaeologists look

for remains of civilizations along

the banks of rivers and streams.

Finding a site2. They check out reports of artifacts that have been

discovered. Artifacts have been discovered by farmers

and construction companies while working at their jobs.

3. They check the land from

the air, looking for large

depressions that could be

the ruins of an ancient living

area.

4. They use scientific

instruments like radar and

sonar to look for ruins.

Permission to DigAn archaeologist must receive

permission to explore a site. The

owner of the land must grant

permission. Sometimes the

government of a country must issue

permits.

Once permission is received,

archaeologists work in teams with

other archaeologists. A team begins

to explore the area. They look for

evidence that people once lived in

the area. Evidence includes fossils

and artifacts.

Grids & Labeling

Before they begin digging, archaeologists design a grid

on the ground using rope and string.

Each square in the grid must be

carefully searched. A record

must be kept of anything found,

including what was

found next to it.

Tools of the Trade

The tools they use are

sometimes very simple. Tools

include trowels, brushes, spoons,

dental picks, sieves, saws,

dustpans, and wheelbarrows.

They search each grid very

carefully. Digging at a site is slow

and careful work.

Back in the Lab

Once objects are labeled and removed from a site, they

are taken to a lab, relabeled, and placed into a database.

Archaeologists use this information to put together pieces

of the past.

It takes a great deal of

education, training,

patience, and attention

to detail to workas an

archaeologist.

What is it?

1. While planting my garden, I

found a three-foot long bone

made out of stone. Did I find

a fossil or an artifact?

2. While exploring in the woods

near my house, I found an

old arrowhead. Did I find a

fossil or an artifact?

The job of an archaeologist is a great deal like the job of

a detective. Here are some puzzles for you to solve.

Learn More

For the answers to these questions,

click on these links.

http://www.saa.org/ForthePublic/Resources/Educational

Resources/ForEducators/UsingArchaeologyContentandS

killsforClassroom/tabid/954/Default.aspx

http://www.nps.gov/paal/learn/historyculture/paloalto.ht

m

http://www.saa.org/ForthePublic/Resources/EducationalResources/ForEducators/UsingArchaeologyContentandSkillsforClassroom/tabid/954/Default.aspxhttp://www.nps.gov/paal/learn/historyculture/paloalto.htm