What Should People Know?

• Archaeology is the study of the human past through material culture and human impacts on the environment. Archaeologists do not study dinosaurs or fossils.
• In Iowa, archaeologists identify and study the sites, artifacts, and physical remains that make up the past 13,000 years of human settlement. This includes any site that is 50 years or older!
• Archaeology is not just about artifacts! Artifacts and archaeological sites help to tell stories about people in the past who are the ancestors of people who are alive today. We do not call artifacts relics or treasure.
• Archaeology is a destructive science. Sites are non-renewable resources; once they’re excavated or destroyed, they are gone forever!
• Digging is only one of many ways to learn about the past. There are multiple steps in a professional archaeological investigation, and an excavation is often only one of those steps. This is called the archaeological process.
• There are many ways to do archaeology without digging! Archaeologists use innovative technology like aerial or drone surveys, photogrammetry and 3D modeling, ground penetrating radar, mapping, and photography to learn about past peoples.
• Archaeological sites can be damaged by weather, erosion, agriculture, development, and looting. It is important to protect sites from further destruction through preservation and stewardship.
• It is illegal to take archaeological artifacts from any public lands in the US, and it is illegal to trespass onto someone’s private property to look for sites or artifacts.
• Archaeologists work with descendant communities, such as Native American Tribal Nations, who are connected to the people who lived at archaeological sites. The oral histories and memories of descendant community members are very important to learning about the past!  
• Indiana Jones was not a good archaeologist. We love his movies, but professional archaeologists are guided by ethics!

Interview an Expert

We'll update this list as we learn of and organize additional opportunities for teams to speak to archaeologists. Check back for additional information!

• Zoom with a professional archaeologist, any time, upon request. Email elizabeth-reetz@uiowa.edu to schedule.
• Observe excavations at the Abbie Gardner annual summer field school in northwest Iowa! We'll schedule a day between June 23-27 and organize a sign-up sheet.
• Attend the International Archaeology Day ancient technology fair at Rivers Edge Conservation Center in Fort Dodge on October 18.
• Attend a University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist open house. Late summer/autumn dates TBD.