This happened during construction of the new Science Museum of Minnesota in 1997. After construction crews turned up curious objects, Ketz's archaeology team was called in to test the area for historic artifacts and make determinations about their findings. Public interest was tremendous, and media reports included radio and television throughout the U.S. and Canada. Traditional tools of the archaeologist start with books and maps since probable sites can often be identified through documentary and cartographic analysis. Potential archaeology sites are identified, and written histories of the area are studied.
Archaeologists educate themselves about what to look for before they dig.
Archaeology teams then go out into the field and begin testing at the most likely spots where artifacts might be found. Fieldwork tools include maps, shovels, brushes, string for marking off areas, and measuring tapes. Photographic equipment is always carried. Often, archaeologists wear special clothing to protect them from weather, insects, and poison ivy. Archaeologists fall within the larger occupational category of social scientists.