Most of the time archaeologists use hand trowels and dust pans. They slowly scrap away layers of dirt and put it in buckets, all the while keeping an eye out for artifacts or changes in the soil. They often use hand brushes, both big and small, to clean up dirt and expose very small artifacts. Click HERE to see a short movie of people excavating a site in Central Texas. Click HERE to see an archaeologist cleaning up a unit with a brush.
Archaeologists also use larger tools, like shovels and even backhoes, to move great amounts of dirt.
Though they must be very careful and have a good idea of what they will find underground because an errant movement can easily break artifacts and destroy features. Click HERE to see archaeologists using shovels to excavate a Historic site from Central Texas. Sometimes archaeologists find very small or fragile objects. At times like these a hand trowel to big and unwieldy. Archaeologists use dental picks, toothpicks, bamboo sticks and very tiny brushes to gradually, and safely, expose artifacts.