But it's also a science. McBride says they may call on experts from a range of scientific specialties for help, including geologists and chemists. Ethnobotanists study seeds to learn about agriculture and climate. Zooarchaeologists study animal bones to learn about what farmers raised and how the animals were prepared for meals. Bill Wepler, curator of anthropology for the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, said that an archaeological site could be any area where there has been activity by man.
Archaeologists prepare for their projects by conducting background research.
They can't afford to make a mistake, because once they dig, the site is destroyed forever. To find the best place to dig, they look over the land for signs that the surface has been disturbed. Differences in the kinds of plants growing in an area can be a clue. Wepler said most archaeological sites are found on the basis of surface debris. In historical archaeology, maps point out where something should have been.