If you are interested in becoming an archeologist, then you’re probably curious as to how one approaches a site or what they are exactly looking for. In this article, you will encounter some of the methods and ways of an archeologist, including some of the reasons why an archeologist is important.
Have you ever seen a picture or a clip on archeology, where they show archeologists digging little squares into the ground? This is one of the significant practices of an archeologist , a scientific approach that utilizes a grid system. The square holes are clean and organized with sections corresponding to a grid. A dig can produce hundreds of finds, some of which are rather small in size or spread out. When archeologists return to a laboratory to analyze their finds, they can better track their progress by relying on a grid system. It’s a convenient way of keeping a record of all of the things that they find.
The Ins and Outs of a Dig
Once a potential dig site is located, an archeologist completes initial research and then seeks permission to conduct a dig. After gaining the A-Ok, it’s time to begin. During the dig, archeologists are keeping their eyes out for clues of the past, which usually emerge as an artifact , items that ancient people used in their daily lives. It could be a tool or a piece of pottery. They could have transported the object around or used on a regular basis at their residence.
Other things that an archeologist wishes to find, includes information regarding how the environment was in the past, as well as features of living that are not easily moved, such as:
· Seeds
· Animal remains
· Different types of soil deposits
· Fireplaces
· Temples
· Monuments
The digging and excavation of a site is rather important to the existence of an archeologist. Great care is taken to make sure that the site is not destroyed. As a precaution, an entire site is not always excavated. It is common to see an archeological team excavate only a small piece of a site so that future researchers (equipped with more advanced tools and methods) can reveal details that present-day approaches may miss.
Why Are Archeologists Important?
Archeologists are important because they shed light on the past. From time to time, pressing questions emerge about the way our ancestors lived , some that could even help us make decisions for living in today’s environment. An archeologist is called upon to research these questions, taking them to various parts of the worlds in order to obtain an answer. Other times, information linked to the past becomes threatened (by changes in nature, erosion, or new construction) and an archeologist is called upon to help. They will recover bits and pieces of the past before a site is destroyed.