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A Developing Science
Today, archaeology is a science, but it did not start out this way. In the early 1900s,
archaeologists were explorers. They were often driven by curiosity or greed. Most archaeologists
were field workers at dig sites, or excavations, at ancient cities. Often, they focused on finding
valuable items that could be sold. Early archaeologists did not always take the greatest of care
with smaller, fragile artifacts that they believed to be less valuable. Many artifacts were
destroyed. Little serious study was done on what survived. In an atmosphere like this, it was easy
for trickery to occur. In 1912, British lawyer and amateur archaeologist Charles Dawson claimed
to have discovered an early human skeleton. Piltdown Man, as he was called, turned out to be
made of a modern human skull and animal bones. The situation began to improve in the middle
of the 1900s. By the 1960s, archaeology had become a more exact science.
Archaeologists often search for years before they find a site to dig. To find a site, archaeologists
consider certain factors. They look for elements that would help the creation of a civilization.
They search in places close to water and with good soil quality. Sites of large cities or societies
are likely to contain more artifacts. Sometimes, important sites are accidentally found by people
other than archaeologists.
Once a site has been located, the archaeologists must deal with the climate. They often work in
extremely hot or wet weather. The next step is to recover the artifacts. Unlike the early
archaeologists, modern archaeologists do not focus only on valuable items. Instead, they collect
everything they find. Fossils and other artifacts help to explain who lived in certain areas and
when they lived there. Old tools reveal information about the technological abilities of a people.
Sculpture, art, and pottery provide clues about ancient cultures and the peoples beliefs.
Careful Study
Carelessness was common in early dig sites. Present-day archaeology has worldwide rules for
digging. Shovels and picks are used only for a small portion of the work. Much more is done
with much smaller instruments to avoid destroying anything. Small, shovel-like tools called
trowels are used to remove the dirt.
If large objects are located, they are dug up, or extracted. Archaeologists use small knives that
look like scalpels. They are called penknives. The artifacts are then brushed off to remove the
remaining fine dirt and other material. They are then placed into plastic bags and labeled.
The artifacts are recorded and reported. Sometimes they are displayed in museum exhibits.
Archaeologists also compare artifacts to other known samples from the time. They look for
similarities and differences in construction or style. Human skeletons are examined for injuries
and for signs of medical work, such as broken bones that may have been set. All of these clues
help to create a clearer picture of what life was like long ago.