Unit 7 Section 4 Cross-curricular connection

The archaeologist: history’s detective

Archaeologists are like detectives. They collect information, use scientific methods and study data to make sense of past events. Archaeologists study man-made objects and human remains from the past. These objects help them make sense of human history.

But how do archaeologists work?

First, archaeologists need to find a site. Some sites are on the surface, but others are underground or even underwater. They use technology, such as satellite images, to find them.

Next, archaeologists start to dig with great care. They try to find objects from the past, such as tools, bones, artworks and buildings. To protect these remains, archaeologists use special tools, like knives, picks or brushes.

After this, archaeologists study these remains. They want to answer questions, such as: who made this object, when and why? Their findings help us understand how people in the past lived.

Archaeologists work with other scientists and museums to bring history back to life. Through their careful work, we are able to learn new, important things about historic cultures.