Please enter any question about archaeology in the space provided. If the question is suitable, both the question and its answer will be posted at the end of this web page. Most of these remains lie buried in the soil. The include abandoned communities, graves, and garbage dumps. Sometime a natural disaster such as a volcano or a flood will cover a site so it can be uncovered later.
Scientists carefully study the terrain to find likely sites.
Then they dig, carefully removing the soil, and even sifting it so even small remains can be studied. Sometimes all that remains of an artifact is a hole that it occupies. If the hole is carefully filled with plaster the shape of the artifact can be preserved. Shattered pots can be reconstructed. A map of the site documents the location of all objects found.