The Science of Archaeology Archaeology is a way to understand how people lived in the past. While some archaeologists excavate on 'digs', not all do. Digging', in fact, is only a small part of archaeology, but it is the part most people think of when they hear the word archaeology. Those archaeologists who do excavate are not just looking for artifacts. They are asking questions and trying to puzzle out answers to questions about how people lived in the past.
Archaeologists are always open to new ideas.