Through their contacts in these countries they were able to obtain a great variety of plants, animals and fossils and cultural objects. These artifacts express the richness of the natural and cultural worlds of our Latin American and Caribbean neighbors. The contributions of these first explorers to the natural history, archaeology and anthropology of these regions, and to the collections of the Smithsonian, are remarkable. In the field Scientists add to what we know about the world around us by studying, and explaining the plants, animals, minerals and artifacts they collect in the field. Botanists, zoologists, archaeologists and other scientists gather and record data about their specimens and artifacts in order to document the diversity of life.
Fieldwork is usually a challenge and can be dangerous.
In fact, the field reports of some pioneer explorers and scientists read more like an Indiana Jones story than a scientific report. Trading Treasures Museums open windows to the world through the collections they keep. The scientists and curators that work for museums build these collections to study, organize and explain the tremendous diversity of life on Earth. Original objects and first-hand accounts are combined to create exhibits that interpret the vast fields of history and science. Collections can be better than books, illustrating much more about the subjects than can ever be put into words.