The Wonders of Archaeology

Have you ever wondered what humans and other species looked like and how they lived thousands of years ago? Well, that is exactly what archaeologists (Scientists who study archaeology) try to find out. Archaeologists start off their search by finding a site to study. Some sites may be on the surface, but some may be underground, or in a cave. Usually, the best-preserved sites are found away from the sun, water, or harmful chemicals.

Once they have found a good site, the archeologists begin to dig carefully. This is also known as excavation. It is important to be cautious while digging because artifacts (buildings, tools, weapons, art, and anything else that people made) and fossils( the remnants of a prehistoric animal or plant) are very fragile, and they can break easily. It is also important that archaeologists are fully covered from head to toe because their DNA can contaminate the fossils that were found.

The archaeologists then study the objects they found. They want to know when it was from, why it existed, and how it is different than the present. Archaeologists use a method called carbon-14 dating to determine the age of an artifact or fossil. Carbon-14 is a chemical found in all organisms, and once an organism dies, the carbon-14 in their body decreases at a constant rate. Archaeologists will measure this decrease to determine the age of an organism.

Chiquihuite Cave

Picture Source: Smithsonian Magazine