An archaeologist is a scientist who learns about people that lived very long ago. He studies physical evidence such as bones, fossils, or artifacts (man made objects – shelter, artwork, pottery, tools, weapons, etc.).

    When the site of an ancient culture is discovered the archaeologist’s first job is to learn about the people’s culture which includes everything available about their way of life. For example: food, clothing, language, religious beliefs, communication, values and traditions. Once the archaeologist learns about the people he begins his study of the site by carefully mapping out the area and forming a grid to form squares. Finally, the scientist measures, digs, sifts and brushes away the dirt to uncover the evidence. From his discoveries the archaeologist begins to put together the clues to learn about the story of the past.

 

Famous Archaeologists:

Howard Carter: discovered King Tut’s tomb

Richard Leakey: early hominid fossils and the origin of humankind

 

Fictional Archaeologist:

Indiana Jones
First appeared in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and a slew of mass market paperbacks and games.

“The swashbuckling character of Indiana Jones was loosely based on an early 19th century Italian archaeologist named Giovanni Belzoni, who became famous for exploring and excavating treasured Egyptian sites.”