This means that every site tells a different story and, if it is destroyed, cannot be replaced by another one exactly like it. Archaeological sites should be preserved so they can be properly studied by today's archaeologists or saved for future archaeologists. Since archaeology is, after all, a destructive process, some sites should be preserved simply because they are unique. Many people are interested in the past. They collect artifacts like pottery, arrowheads, or old bottles.
Some people dig up archaeological sites to get artifacts.
They may not know about scientific archaeology and why excavation units and stratigraphy are so important for understanding the past. Remember, an archaeological site is like a book. The layers of dirt and artifacts that are left in the ground can be read like the pages of a book. When someone digs holes in an archaeological site, it is like ripping pages out of the life stories of past peoples. Some people dig up graves to get artifacts.