Instead they use tools called dredges or airlifts that work like gigantic vacuum cleaners, sucking up samd and loose sediment that coveres artifacts and blowing it out away from the site. Heavy artifacts are lifted to the surface using giant balloons called liftbags. Underwater archaeologists usually wear standard diving gear, which includes a tank of compressed air, an inflatable vest, a weight belt, and a wetsuit. They carry a measuring tape, a special plastic notepad, and a digging tool. Some archaeologists discover sites from the air, using aerial photography.
Archaeologists love making new and useful excavating tools from everyday objects.
Dig Magazine will have lots of articles about the tools archaeologists use. The basic tools, such as shovels, masonry trowels, hand picks, spirit levels, measuring tapes, and buckets can be purchased at any hardware store anywhere in the world. More specialized tools, such as a theodolyte and surveying equipment, digital camera, drafting materials and soil charts will have to purchased from different suppliers of scientific equipment. There are also some archaeological tools that simply have to be invented to suit the needs and circumstances of a particular excavation.