1. Archaeology The Basics
Adapted from the Texas Historical Commission’s document How Archaeologists Work

2. What is archaeology?
The study of people from the past through artifacts
Archaeologists study pre-history or the time before written history
They find a site or place where artifacts and other material remains are found
Mostly stone tools, pottery and other non-perishable artifacts are what’s left
Perishable artifacts such as those made of wood or plant fiber have rotted away over time

3. Key questions about sites
Who owns the site?
Where is the site located?
How big is the site?
What is the environment like in the site area?
Based on visible evidence, what period does it appear to date from?
Who recorded the site, and when?
Has a site number been assigned? (Site numbers help archaeologists distinguish between the many different sites across the United States)

4. Site numbers Each state has its own number Texas’s number is 41
Each county in Texas has an abbreviation that is used
Victoria is VT
The last part of the number shows how many sites were recorded in the county before the current one
Ex. 41VT59 is a site in the state of Texas in Victoria County and is the 59th site found in that county

5. Excavation
Before excavation begins, the site is photographed, a map is created, and a gird system is set up using wooden stakes and string
The grid system helps archaeologists keep accurate records of where everything was located
Once these preparations are done, it is time to excavate
When thinking of an excavation, picture a layer cake
As archaeologists dig deeper into the earth, the artifacts get older and older

6. What are they looking for?
Not just artifacts
They are looking for changes in the soil, places fires once burned, and where buildings once stood
Archaeologists take samples of the soil to study when they return to the lab
These soil samples can help identify what people lived in that area
Larger objects are easier to find but in other cases, shovels of dirt are place in a screen in order to shift out smaller artifacts such as beads

7. Questions about artifacts
How did this get here?
When was it made?
What was it made from?
How was it made?
How was it used?
What objects were found with it?
Which cultural group made it?
Why was it discarded?

8. Finishing the site and writing the report
Artifacts that can be moved are taken back to the lab along with soil samples and other items to be examined and cataloged
Sometimes, archaeologists will call in geologists (study the earth itself), paleontologists (study fossils), and botanists (study plants) to help them
Writing a report on their findings is so important because other archaeologists will use those reports as a comparison for their dig sites.
Writing a report can take months and even years in some cases
Once the report is published, the artifacts must be curated
At this point, other scientists will be able to use the artifacts for comparative analysis (compare them to artifacts they found on their current site)

9. How sites are destroyed
Archaeological sites are non-renewable resources
Once they have been destroyed, they cannot be replaced or replicated
Information will is lost forever
When archaeologists excavate, they try to preserve as much of the site as they can
Natural forces such as hurricanes, floods, tornados, and other naturally occurring phenomena can destroy sites (archaeologists work hard to excavate sites before this can happen)
People can also destroy sites
Some do not know any better and accidentally dig up artifacts while others are curious about the site and remove artifacts to show their friends
There are also people called pothunters who dig up sites looking for perfect and valuable artifacts to sell for profit
Archaeologists and people around the world work hard to keep sites from being destroyed by teaching people how to protect them