How does something become an archaeological artifact? These are the things that people leave behind. It happens every day. Trash gets thrown in a landfill, a windstorm coats an abandoned building with dust, mud buries a dropped item. Over time, soil and sand form different layers - or strata - around these items. Imagine this happening over hundreds and thousands of years. Archaeologists examine objects in the strata to learn about the foods people ate, the tools they made, the games they played, and the way they lived.
Archaeologists say that "pots are not people." This means that just because technology changes, it doesn't mean that the culture is different. Think about your technology. Fifty years ago, cell phones did not exist. Does that mean that we are a different culture than our grandparents?
The history of archaeology has not always been positive. Some archaeologists destroyed sacred sites and removed human remains and grave goods. In recent years, archaeologists have begun working with tribes to include Native knowledge and perspectives.
