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Tools of the Craft
How do archaeologists examine a site?
Archaeologists often search for years before they find a site for a dig. To increase the
probability of finding a site, archaeologists consider certain factors that would make the
creation of a city or civilization more likely, such as terrain, soil, closeness to water, and
the types of tasks ancient cultures most likely performed. Sites that could have
supported large cities or societies are more likely to contain artifacts from those
societies. Sometimes, discoveries happen completely by accident or are found by people
other than archaeologists. The famous cave paintings of Lascaux, France, were first
discovered in 1940 by a group of teenagers chasing their runaway dog!
Once a site has been located, the archaeologists must deal with the climate, often
working in exhausting heat or torrential downpours. They then perform a variety of
surveys to determine if the site has artifacts. The next step is to recover any artifacts that
may be at the site. Unlike the early archaeologists, who were focused primarily on
valuable items, modern archaeologists look for all material remains of ancient
civilization. Fossils and other remains provide information about who lived in certain
areas and when they lived there. Tools can provide insight into the intelligence and
technological abilities of a people. Sculpture, art, and pottery can provide clues about
culture and beliefs and are especially valuable in the absence of written records. Written
records, when available, are among the most valuable artifacts archaeologists have in
studying ancient people.
Careful Study
To prevent the carelessness and fraud that were common in early archaeology, presentday archaeology has strict, worldwide protocols, or rules, established to minimize the
impact of dig sites. Shovels and picks, tools thought of as digging implements, are only
used for a small portion of archaeological work. Much of the work is done with much
smaller instruments in order to avoid destroying remains or artifacts. Small, shovel-like
instruments called trowels are used to remove small amounts of dirt. The dirt is sifted
through a screen in an attempt to locate small items such as bone shards and pot
fragments.
If the archaeologists locate artifacts, they are extracted, or dug up, using penknives, or
small knives that resemble scalpels, and brushed to remove any remaining fine dirt and
other material. The artifacts are then placed into plastic bags and labeled. Finally, the
artifacts are recorded, reported, and often put on display.
The artifacts that are found are also studied extensively. Archaeologists perform
laboratory analysis of the artifacts to date them, and often scientists from other fields
examine the artifacts. These scientists' specialized knowledge often leads to information
that may otherwise have been unavailable to the archaeologist. For example, a geologist
determined that the rocks used to build Stonehenge had come from a location more
than 200 miles away. Archaeologists also compare artifacts to other known samples from
the time to look for similarities and differences in construction or style. Human remains
are examined for medical procedures as well as injuries, such as broken bones that may
have been set. All of these clues help archaeologists to create a clearer picture of what
life was like long ago.