How do archaeologists find old things?

Archaeologists first try to work out where to dig. They look at old maps, take photos from the sky, and sometimes a farmer tells them after finding an old piece of pottery in a field. Once they choose a spot, they split the ground into small squares and dig very slowly.

While digging, they use small brushes and tiny tools instead of big shovels. This is because old objects can be very fragile. When they find a bone or a piece of a vase, they take a photo of it right where it is and write down where it came from. This helps them understand the object's story.

Sometimes they use special tools to find things they cannot see. For example, ground radar lets them see under the soil. This way, they can guess where something is before they even dig.

Everything they find is taken to a museum or a laboratory. There, scientists try to work out how old the object is and who used it.