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Archeologists
Archeologists are scientists
who study the remains of past civilizations. They
reconstruct the past by gathering clues. Bones are one kind
of clue. Artifacts and fossils are other clues. Artifacts
are objects from the past, usually made by people. Fossils
are impressions or remains of animals and plants that have turned
to stone. Archeologists begin to collect evidence at a spot
where people might have lived and worked. Scientists begin
to clear away layers of earth to find signs of human
civilization. Archeologists call this spot a site, or dig.
Archeologists remove each
layer by hand, using many kinds of tools, from shovels to dentist
instruments. They work very slowly because they do not want
to damage the delicate artifacts and fossils buried in the
soil. Workers sift the dirt and rubble through a
sieve. They look for things like bits of pottery, tools,
seeds, weapons, and bones.
Archeologists record the
exact location of every item they find. Then they use
high-tech equipment to determine the age of each item.
Archeologists must know as much as possible to identify artifacts.
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