What do archaeologists find

Comparing these to regular vegetation can be a hint of something below. But the contrast may only be discernible from above, and becomes starker during dry spells. Amidst a drought, for example, a drone flying over wheat fields in Ireland captured the outline of a roughly 5,year-old monument , similar to Stonehenge but made of timber.

The circular image in the crops had never been seen before, and disappeared after the drought was over. In arid regions like the Middle East, satellite images offer great aerial shots. Even Google Earth has proven effective for finding unknown sites in Afghanistan , Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. Beyond discovering new sites, aerial views help archaeologists study regional connections between sites, such as Bronze Age roadways in Syria identified from satellite shots.

In this case, the study used older satellite photos — snapped during s Cold War spying. The declassified CORONA satellite shots were better than present-day views because recent urbanization and farmland had covered undeveloped land, erasing ancient features still visible a few decades ago. Unfortunately, in densely forested areas, satellite photos will only show treetops. In these regions, archaeologists have benefited from LiDAR , or Light Detecting and Ranging, one of the newest tools in remote sensing.

Flown over a landscape, the instrument sends nondestructive laser pulses to the ground and measures the reflected beams. The data creates a detailed 3D map of terrain, with vegetation digitally removed.

The ability to see through trees in this way has led to tremendous discoveries. For instance, a team using LiDAR in Guatemala recently found 60, structures from the ancient Maya civilization — hidden, until now, beneath thick foliage.

After archaeologists identify a promising area, they need to select a specific spot to excavate. There are also a number of ways to peek underground digitally without digging, including ground-penetrating radar GPR and electrical resistivity. The latter works for the same reason that plants grow more or less lushly over different materials.

Underground features like a grave or wooden foundations will make soil damper, so it will conduct electricity more easily than dry, stony ground. For these geophysical methods, researchers drag instruments on little trolleys across the area of interest.

The devices collect data on subsurface anomalies — suggesting perhaps a wall, structure or burial. Despite the efforts of archaeologists, many sites are discovered accidentally by non- archaeologists — including some of the most famous.

Construction projects often run into ancient remains , and most countries have laws to ensure archaeologists are called in when that happens. You never know what lies below. In one case, the chill of an Alpine glacier preserved the body of a man for more than 5, years!

Forensic archaeologists studying his body were surprised to learn that he was a murder victim—the crime just took place more than 5, years ago. Uncovered Artifacts As artifacts are uncovered, the archaeological team records every step of the process through photos, drawings, and notes.

Once the artifacts have been completely removed, they are cleaned, labeled, and classified. Particularly fragile or damaged artifacts are sent to a conservator. Conservators have special training in preserving and restoring artifacts so they are not destroyed when exposed to air and light. Textile s, including clothing and bedding, are especially threatened by exposure. Textile conservators must be familiar with climate , as well as the chemical composition of the cloth and dye s, in order to preserve the artifacts.

In , Swedish archaeologists recovered the ship Vasa , which sank in Conservators protected the delicate oak structure of Vasa by spraying it with polyethylene glycol PEG.

The ship was sprayed with PEG for 17 years, and allowed to dry for nine. Today, Vasa sits in its own enormous museum, a hallmark of Swedish heritage. Then the artifacts are sent to a lab for analysis. This is usually the most time-consuming part of archaeology. For every day spent digging, archaeologists spend several weeks processing their finds in the lab.

All of this analysis—counting, weighing, categorizing—is necessary. Archaeologists use the information they find and combine it with what other scientists have discovered. When did people develop tools, and how did they use them? What did they use to make clothing? Did their clothing styles indicate their social ranks and roles?

What did they eat? Did they live in large groups or smaller family units? Did they trade with people from other regions? Were they warlike or peaceful? What were their religious practices? Archaeologists ask all of these questions and more. The scientists write up their findings and publish them in scientific journal s. Other scientists can look at the data and debate the interpretations, helping us get the most accurate story.

Publication also lets the public know what scientists are learning about our history. Sherds and Shards Many archaeologists study broken bits of pottery. These fragments are called potsherds, and sometimes just sherds.

Sherds can be anything from bits of a broken water jug to a piece of a clay tablet to the components of China's "Terra Cotta Warriors. Shards include fragments of ancient windows, wine bottles, and jewelry. Trashy Science Most archaeologists study the past, but some study people who are still alive. For example, Dr. William Rathje uses his archaeological skills to dig through present-day garbage bins and landfills to learn about what Americans consume, discard, and waste.

Ancient Cannibals Some ancient humans may have indulged in cannibalism on a regular basis. Archaeologists discovered ,year-old remains from an early human species, Homo antecessor , in a Spanish cave.

Among the remains were human bones with marks on them that appear to come from stone tools used to prepare meals. What is the difference? BC stands for Before Christ, and it is used to date events that happened before the birth of Jesus, whom Christians consider the son of God. In the late 20th century, scientists realized they were basing the entire history of the world around the birth of one religious figure.

The dates are still the same, only the letters have changed. Also called radiocarbon dating. Also called Llano. Also called a CAT scanner. Also called the Parthenon Marbles. Also called the Hebrew Scriptures.

A hypothesis is tested to determine if it is accurate. Nicknamed "Otzi. Navy during the Civil War. RAdio Detection And Ranging method of determining the presence and location of an object using radio waves. Also called carbon-dating. The decree is carved in three languages: Greek, demotic, and hieroglyphic. The current sea level rise is 1. Also called Troia and Ilion. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.

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Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives. Egypt was a vast kingdom of the ancient world. It was unified around B. Today Egyptologists, archaeologists who focus on this ancient civilization, have learned a great deal about the rulers, artifacts, and customs of ancient Egypt.

Use these resources to teach your students about the ancient Egyptians. Others say that Aeneas and some of his followers escaped the fall of Troy and established the town. Regardless of which of the many myths one prefers, no one can doubt the impact of ancient Rome on western civilization. A people known for their military, political, and social institutions, the ancient Romans conquered vast amounts of land in Europe and northern Africa, built roads and aqueducts, and spread Latin, their language, far and wide.

Use these classroom resources to teach middle schoolers about the empire of ancient Rome. For thousands of years, this area was populated by groups such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec peoples. Cultural traits that define the region include the domestication of maize, beans, avocado, and vanilla, and a common architectural style.

Learn more about the rich cultures and lives of these early civilizations. Ancient China is responsible for a rich culture, still evident in modern China. From small farming communities rose dynasties such as the Zhou B. E , Qin B. E , and Ming C. Each had its own contribution to the region.

During the Zhou Dynasty, for example, writing was standardized, iron working refined, and famous thinkers like Confucius and Sun-Tzu lived and shared their philosophies. Learn more about the history and rich culture of Ancient China with this curated resource collection. Humans relied on hunting and gathering practices to survive for thousands of years before the development of agriculture.

This more reliable food supply meant humans could stay in one place and gave rise to settled communities and cities. These urban civilizations had larger populations, unique architecture and art, systems of government, different social and economic classes, and a division of labor.

Learn more about the rise of cities with these resources. Mesopotamia is thought to be one of the places where early civilization developed. It is a historic region of West Asia within the Tigris-Euphrates river system. In fact, the word Mesopotamia means "between rivers" in Greek. Home to the ancient civilizations of Sumer, Assyria, and Babylonia these peoples are credited with influencing mathematics and astronomy. Use these classroom resources to help your students develop a better understanding of the cradle of civilization.

The Industrial Revolution was the transition from creating goods by hand to using machines. Its start and end are widely debated by scholars, but the period generally spanned from about to According to some, this turning point in history is responsible for an increase in population, an increase in the standard of living, and the emergence of the capitalist economy.

Teach your students about the Industrial Revolution with these resources. Ancient Greek politics, philosophy, art and scientific achievements greatly influenced Western civilizations today. One example of their legacy is the Olympic Games. Use the videos, media, reference materials, and other resources in this collection to teach about ancient Greece, its role in modern-day democracy, and civic engagement.

Where did we come from? Humans continue to search for the answer to this fundamental question. Over the years, we've turned to both religion and science to explain where our species came from. Innovators of their time, Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, used science to explain where humans came from, posing the theory of evolution.

Then, Mary and Louis Leaky explored the fossil record to see if they could piece together the story of humans. Evolutionary science and archaeology continue today. Use these materials in your classroom to teach your students about the origins of the homo sapien. Artifacts include tools, clothing, and decorations made by people. They provide essential clues for researchers studying ancient cultures. Christopher E. Horrell is a marine archaeologist who uses his diving expertise to explore history, which has been submerged.

With 95 percent of the seafloor not yet explored, oceanographers and maritime archaeologists look to the deep waters of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas for shipwrecks that can be used to tell the story of ancient civilizations throughout the region.

Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Skip to content. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom. Encyclopedic Entry Vocabulary. Not all archaeologists are as swashbuckling as Indiana Jones and Lara Croft.

Some, but not all. Photograph by Richard Hewitt Stewart. Civil War. Clovis people. Clovis point. Checking out areas near rivers and other water sources is another smart way to go. Using planes, radar, and a trained eye, archaeologists also look for strange terrain.

Suppose a rain forest is flat. But the jungle cover might hide a weird mound. Other strange mounds may rise nearby. The ruins of a temple or other human-made structure may lie inside such mounds. Or, simply login to enjoy. Login or Sign Up for a Premium Account to view this content.