Question

Short answer type questions. Who are archaeologists? What do they do?

Answer 1

Hint:
Archaeologists are scientists who study the humans of the historic or prehistoric times.
They study handicrafts, potteries, architectural structures, graves and other artifacts related to humans.


Complete answer:
Archaeologists are scientists who study the humans of the historic or prehistoric times. They do this by studying artifacts that are found buried under the ground. They do not study the rocks and minerals of the ground, (that is what geologists do). Neither do they study the bones and remains of dead animals of the past (that is what paleontologists do). They study handicrafts, potteries, architectural structures, graves and other artifacts related only to humans. They are basically anthropologists for the prehistoric civilizations.
Before excavating a place, the archaeologists will research about the place, for e.g. if there have been some excavations performed there earlier or not, compare historical maps to the current maps and determine the correct present day location, etc. Then the archaeologists perform a small shovel test on some area to locate a probable ancient site of importance. If the site shows evidence of some artifacts, then the excavation will continue. Excavation is a slow process because the artifacts are not supposed to get destroyed during excavation. After the excavation is complete the archaeologists analyze the artifacts that they found and make conclusions about the site.
The first archaeological excavation that was ever carried out was of the Stonehenge in England. John Aubrey was the archaeologist who excavated the Stonehenge and many other megaliths in southern England. He carried out excavations in the 17th Century. Other excavations which were carried out in the 18th Century were of the Spanish cities Pompeii and Herculaneum. Both these cities were destroyed by the eruption of the Mount Vesuvius Volcanic Eruption in 79 AD.


Note:
Another branch of archaeology is ‘Underwater archaeology’. It is basically archaeology that is practiced under water.
Its acceptance as a branch was pretty late because it was very difficult to access the sites under water.
It is also difficult to work underwater because of insufficient light and various sea creatures moving around them.