Digging to the past
Archaeology is the study of things that people made, used, and left behind. The purpose of archaeology is to understand what people were like and how they lived. Scientists who study archaeology are called archaeologists.
An archaeologist’s works begins with finding a site to study. Some sites, such as ancient cities, are visible on the surface. Other sites are buried deep beneath the ground.
After finding a site, an archaeologist digs slowly and carefully. This work is called excavation, or a “dig”. They try to uncover buildings, tools, weapons, art, and anything else that people made or used. These items are called artifacts. They then study the objects. They want to know when an it was made, what it was made from, and what it was used for. These experts have several methods for figuring out an artifact’s age.
Archaeologists also try to understand the culture from which artifacts came. For example, tools such as arrow tips, knives, and grinding stones can tell how people got and prepared their food.
Here’s a game for you, compare the images below and spot the differences.
